Health Information Compliance Alert
SNOWE BILL SEEKS GENETIC PROTECTIONS
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The successful mapping of the human ge-nome is spurring attempts to minimize the potential for misuse of genetic information. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) March 6 introduced a new version of a bill that would prohibit insurers and employers from discriminating on the basis of genetic information. Originally introduced in April 1996, this revised version of the "Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2002" contains for the first time provisions intended to prevent employers from using genetic information to hire or fire an employee. In introducing the legislation, Snowe cited last year's Burlington Northern case in which employees who refused to undergo genetic testing for carpal tunnel syndrome were threatened with dismissal as evidence of the need for employee protection. The case "demonstrated the threat of employment discrimination is real," says Snowe, "so it is essential we take this information off the table before abuse becomes widespread." For employers, the proposed legislation: Prohibits the use of genetic information derived from either testing or a faimily background in hiring, firing, assigning jobs or handing out promotions; In addition to preventing genetically-based discrimination, Snowe hopes the proposed law will also alleviate privacy concerns that might hinder the beneficial use of genetic information.
Among its provisions the bill:
"If, because of concerns about the way the information could be used, people are unwilling to use the potential unlocked by the Genome project to take proactive steps to protect their healththen we will never reap the true benefits of this discovery."
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