[Pharm-policy] Insurers in the UK are to be allowed to use genetic test results to identify people with hereditary illnesses

[James Love]

Dave Banisar passed on this bit of news on uses for genetic tests. 
Jamie

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_968000/968443.stm

Thursday, 12 October, 2000, 11:28 GMT 12:28 UK 
            Genetic test first for UK

            Genetic tests can predict future illness

           Insurers in the UK are to be allowed to use genetic test
results to
            identify people with hereditary illnesses. 

 The government will announce on Friday that insurers will be able to
use those results to refuse cover or to push up premiums for those born
with genes that could lead to fatal conditions. 

The decision makes Britain the first country to approve the commercial
use of gene technology in this way. 


  [snip]


-- 
James Love  mailto:love@cptech.org http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology, P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036
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