Reassessing insurers' access to genetic information: genetic privacy, ignorance, and injustice

Bioethics
Eli Feiring

Abstract

Many countries have imposed strict regulations on the genetic information to which insurers have access. Commentators have warned against the emerging body of legislation for different reasons. This paper demonstrates that, when confronted with the argument that genetic information should be available to insurers for health insurance underwriting purposes, one should avoid appeals to rights of genetic privacy and genetic ignorance. The principle of equality of opportunity may nevertheless warrant restrictions. A choice-based account of this principle implies that it is unfair to hold people responsible for the consequences of the genetic lottery, since we have no choice in selecting our genotype or the expression of it. However appealing, this view does not take us all the way to an adequate justification of inaccessibility of genetic information. A contractarian account, suggesting that health is a condition of opportunity and that healthcare is an essential good, seems more promising. I conclude that if or when predictive medical tests (such as genetic tests) are developed with significant actuarial value, individuals have less reason to accept as fair institutions that limit access to healthcare on the grounds of risk status...Continue Reading

References

May 5, 1999·Journal of Medical Ethics·A Sommerville, V English
Jan 13, 2000·American Journal of Human Genetics·M A Hall, S S Rich
Jun 22, 2000·Journal of Medical Ethics·T Takala, H A Gylling
Nov 7, 2000·The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics : a Journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics·M A Rothstein
Oct 20, 2001·Bioethics·Tuija Takala
Oct 20, 2001·Science and Engineering Ethics·Joseph S Alper, Jon Beckwith
Oct 20, 2001·European Journal of Health Law·Graeme T Laurie
Jan 26, 2002·Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics·M Häyry, T Takala
Jan 26, 2002·Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics·J Harris, K Keywood
Jan 26, 2002·Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics·R Bennett
Jan 26, 2002·Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics·T Takala
Apr 10, 2002·Journal of Health Economics·Michael Hoel, Tor Iversen
Jul 3, 2003·American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part a·Katrina ArmstrongDavid A Asch
Aug 2, 2003·European Journal of Human Genetics : EJHG·Yann JolyBéatrice Godard
Sep 10, 2004·Clinical Genetics·R NedelcuJ N Weitzel
Mar 31, 2005·Assay and Drug Development Technologies·Thomas Levelli
May 24, 2005·Medicine, Health Care, and Philosophy·Ludvig Beckman
Aug 4, 2005·Journal of Medical Ethics·A W Cappelen, O F Norheim
Sep 2, 2005·The New England Journal of Medicine·Henry T Greely
Oct 18, 2005·The Hastings Center Report·Mark A Rothstein
Jan 31, 2006·Journal of Health Economics·Michael HoelJon Vislie
Dec 25, 2007·Journal of Medical Ethics·E Feiring

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 12, 2015·Behavioral Sciences & the Law·Christopher R Thomas
Apr 17, 2021·Journal of Medical Ethics·Jonathan Pugh
Jun 16, 2021·Journal of Medical Ethics·Eli Feiring

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Anadolu Kardiyoloji Dergisi : AKD = the Anatolian Journal of Cardiology
Zümrüt AlpinarYaman Ors
JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association
J Rhymes
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved