[Skip to Navigation]
Sign In
Commentary
July 16, 2008

European Practices of Genetic Information and Insurance: Lessons for the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

Author Affiliations

Author Affiliations: Department of Health, Ethics & Society/Caphri, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

JAMA. 2008;300(3):326-327. doi:10.1001/jama.2008.62

One of the most contentious topics in public policy debates on genetics has been the use of genetic information by insurance companies. In the rush to confront concerns about potential misuses of genetic information, most European countries have since 1990 enacted genetic nondiscrimination legislation for life or health insurance. In the United States, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was recently signed into law to provide protection against genetic discrimination for employment and health insurance.1,2

Add or change institution
×