HR 493- Genetic Nondiscrimination- A Few Questions

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Specializes in High-risk OB, Labor & Delivery.

hr 493- genetic nondiscrimination- a few questions

  • (1) does anyone know of any recent, evidence-based position papers supporting or simply analyzing hr 493, the genetic information nondiscrimination act (gina) of 2007?
  • (2) as a nurse, how important do you think it is to establish legislation specific to genetics? in other words, do you feel that legislation based on the concept of *genetic exceptionalism is necessary or superfluous, since we already have genetic nondiscrimination legislation in 48 states?

* genetic exceptionalism- genetic information is unique and therefore warrants special, or exceptional, treatment

thanks for reading j

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

I hate to sound so ignorant here, but I have NO IDEA what you're talking about. Could you translate to English?? :yawn:

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In general what this bill is speaking to is the idea that genetic tests that detect predisposing genetic traits cannot be used as the basis for discrimination in employment, health care or insurance.

To prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-493&tab=summary

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Specializes in High-risk OB, Labor & Delivery.
hr 493- genetic nondiscrimination- a few questions

  • (1) does anyone know of any recent, evidence-based position papers supporting or simply analyzing hr 493, the genetic information nondiscrimination act (gina) of 2007?
  • (2) as a nurse, how important do you think it is to establish legislation specific to genetics? in other words, do you feel that legislation based on the concept of *genetic exceptionalism is necessary or superfluous, since we already have genetic nondiscrimination legislation in 48 states?

* genetic exceptionalism- genetic information is unique and therefore warrants special, or exceptional, treatment

thanks for reading j

thanks hm2viking for clarifying!

i just re-read question #2 and it really doesn't make much sense. sorry about that :D. let me try again:

(2) the concept of genetic privacy legislation is nothing new. congress has debated genetic nondiscrimination legislation in every congress since the 104th and 48 states and the district of colombia already have genetic nondiscrimination legislation which prevents the collection, use, or acquisition of genetic information from restricting or denying health insurance coverage/employment (national conference of state legislature, 2007).

from what i gather (and please, please correct me if i'm wrong), the only difference with gina is that is based on the concept of genetic exceptionalism, (defined in my previous post above).

question is: do you think we need even more legislation to ensure genetic privacy? doesn't hippa's privacy rule already provide us with enough protection?

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what are the two states that dont?

and i wouldnt trust HIPAA for this issue

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Specializes in High-risk OB, Labor & Delivery.
what are the two states that dont?

and i wouldnt trust HIPAA for this issue

Actually, there may be more than just two states. Here's a list of State Genetic Privacy Laws:

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/genetics/prt.htm

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