Genetic Screening: Ethical Issues
Regulatory Developments
Insurance
The Nuffield Council's Report recommended that there should be a moratorium on the use of genetic data for life insurance purposes.
Several other committees have since reached the same conclusion:
- The House of Commons Select Committee: Human Genetics (1995)
- Human Genetics Advisory Commission (HGAC): The Implications of Genetic Testing for Insurance (1997)
- House of Commons Science and Technology Committee: Genetics and Insurance (April 2001)
- HGC: Genetic Testing and Insurance (May 2001)
In October 2001, the Association of British Insurers agreed to introduce a moratorium on requiring the disclosure of genetic test results in life insurance (up to £500,000). The moratorium is set to last for five years.
For more information: http://www.abi.org.uk
Genetics and Insurance Committee (GAIC)
The HGAC Report (1997) recommended that a mechanism be put in place to evaluate the scientific and actuarial evidence presented in support of the use of specific genetic tests for insurance products.
In November 1998 the Government responded by establishing the Genetics and Insurance Committee (GAIC). This was set up as an independent body with a remit to evaluate the genetic test results that insurance companies wished to use.
The only test it has so far approved is for Huntington’s Disease in the context of life insurance. An application for approval of two genetic tests for Huntington's Disease was submitted to GAIC by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) in July 2000. The application was sent to a clinical geneticist and an independent actuary for expert review and also to support groups for Huntington's Disease and to the Genetic Interest Group (GIG) for their comments. As a result of these investigations, GAIC approved the test in October 2000. Other tests which will be considered in the next few months include early onset (hereditary) Alzheimers disease and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
For more information: http://www.doh.gov.uk/genetics/gaic.htm
UK Forum on Genetics and Insurance
The UK Forum was set up in 1999 'to analyse the implications of advances in genetic knowledge for insurance in all its forms and to serve the public interest by report on its findings'.
For more information: http://www.ukfgi.org.uk
Last Updated Thu, 24 June 2004