INSURANCE FIRMS GIVEN GUIDELINES ON GENETIC TESTS
PA 05.11.98 17:25
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By John von Radowitz, Science Correspondent, PA News
Plans to prevent unfair use of information from genetic tests by
insurance companies were announced by the Government today.
Under the scheme all genetic tests will in future be subjected to
a valuation by an independent body. Only if shown to be accurate,
reliable and relevant are they expected to be used for insurance
purposes.
The move follows concerns that as new tests are developed over
the next 10 years, life insurance companies will discriminate
unfairly against people because of their genetic make-up.
However, the scheme is based on a voluntary agreement with
insurers rather than a legal framework.
Making the announcement at the Department of Trade and Industry
in London, science minister Lord Sainsbury said he was confident
that insurers would be co-operative.
But he said if the voluntary approach did not work consideration
might be given to legislation forcing companies to comply.
He said: "Under their own code of practice they said they do
not want to use tests that are not validated.
"I think they will take a positive response on this and will
co-operate with this proposal we have put forward. Clearly if
that didn't happen, and I would be very surprised by that, we
would have to look at the situation again in terms of
legislation."
There are already eight tests recognised by the insurance
industry including ones for inherited breast cancer and
Huntingdon's disease.
But ministers made it clear that they too would have to undergo
the independent validation process.
Public health minister Tessa Jowell said from today a person
would be within their rights not to disclose the results of one
of these tests to an insurance company. Insurers would be wrong
to refuse cover because such information had been withheld.
"We would certainly regard it as being in breach of the
voluntary agreement if that were to happen," said Ms Jowell.
The independent body carrying out the validation is to be part of
the existing Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing (ACGT) which
advises the Government on new developments in the field.
The Human Genetics Advisory Commission which proposed the
procedure in a report to the Government welcomed the response of
ministers even though it fell short of what was originally
recommended.
The HGAC had suggested imposing a two-year moratorium on use of
any genetic test by insurance companies. However, this was
rejected as "arbitrary and inappropriate".
Mark Boleat, director general of the Association of British
Insurers, said the industry was "very supportive" of
the Government's efforts.
He added: "We are committed to helping establish the
independent evaluation mechanism as quickly as possible, and, in
the meantime, will be encouraging members to work within the
spirit of what will eventually emerge.
"We share the Government's aim to ensure that anyone seeking
insurance cover can be confident that they will not be unfairly
discriminated against on the basis of a genetic test
result."