A Bill that would allow companies to require
employees to undergo genetic testing and disclose the results to their
employers, or risk having to make health insurance payments of thousands of
dollars extra, was recently approved by the US House of Representatives
Committee on Education and the Workforce, with all 22 Republicans supporting it
and all 17 Democrats opposing.
Genetic tests can predict health risks. In the US,
where companies cover significant parts of the health insurance of their
employees they may, understandably, want to minimise these risks. In the past,
however, decisions on whether or not to undergo genetic testing have been the
voluntary choices of individuals. Both the Council of Europe and the US law
(Genetic Information and Non-Discrimination Act, GINA) uphold this
standpoint.
The European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) defends
the principle that employees should be employed on the basis of their skills
and expertise, and not on their future health risks. This Bill has apparently
been integrated into the activities related to the revision of the Affordable
Care Act, otherwise known as Obama Care. Transparency is needed on the
potential decision to discontinue the GINA. The genetic and health information
of individuals needs protection,” said Professor Martina Cornel, chair of the
ESHG Public and Professional Policy Committee.
