Senate passes ban on genetic discrimination

By Tom Strode - Feb 28, 2005 - comment

The Senate approved in a 98-0 vote Feb. 17 a bill to restrict insurance companies and employers from discriminating against Americans based on their genetic information.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, S. 306, would bar insurance companies from using genetic information to deny coverage or charge higher premiums to healthy people. It also would prohibit employers from using such knowledge in hiring, firing and other employment decisions. Privacy and confidentiality protections would be extended to genetic data.

Supporters of the measure said advances in genetic testing have benefited human beings by enabling doctors to prevent afflictions based on such information. Such genetic data, however, also can prove harmful, proponents of the bill said.

When the National Institutes of Health offered women genetic testing for breast cancer risk, nearly 32 percent of them refused to be tested because of concerns about insurance discrimination, the bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Olympia Snowe, R.-Maine, said from the floor.

Further Learning

Learn more about: Life, Citizenship, Legislation

Post a Comment




Notify me of follow-up comments?

Before You Submit Your Comment (below), Read This:

Thank you for your interest in the ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (SBC).

Comments are moderated to preserve the family-oriented nature of this website and in an attempt to avoid comment spam. We welcome opposing viewpoints, and we will not turn comments away as long as your views are presented with respect to everyone.

Your comments will not appear immediately and are subject to editing or deletion. We will make every attempt to check new comments in a timely manner, though there will likely be delays on the weekends and around holidays.

Please follow the these guidelines to insure your comments will be posted:

  1. Use a real name, at least a real first name. We find folks are less-rude online when not hiding behind a screen-name.
  2. Name-calling and vulgar-language will not be tolerated. Zero-tolerance is our policy. We will not spend time editing profanity. If it contains foul language, your post will be deleted. Oh, and we decide what is and what is not vulgar.
  3. Comments must be on topic. General comments (compliments, complaints, and otherwise) are best delivered here or expressed on your own personal Web site.
  4. And please, do not type in ALL CAPS. It looks like you're screaming at people.

Additionally, within Baptist polity, please recognize that many issues and decisions are addressed at a local church level. SBC denominational (national) offices have no control and desire no control over the activities of a local church. This entity is not responsible for overseeing and insuring the ethical behavior of Southern Baptist pastors or church members. If your concern involves a legal civil or criminal matter, we suggest you contact the proper local officials.

Issues involving pastoral staff or other church members, local Baptist associations or state Baptist conventions are local issues. Therefore the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission cannot and should not address such issues. While we regret we are unable to assist you, we encourage you to seek a biblical resolution of the issue at the local church level. If your question or submission pertains to a matter covered in this text, it is likely we will not acknowledge your submission.

Other than that, we welcome you and hope to see thoughtful discussions at ERLC.com