GOP/Chamber of Commerce block Genetic Discrimination ban in House

[papau]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=570&ncid=753&e=7&u=/nm/20050217/sc_nm/congress_genetics_dc

Senate Passes Ban on Genetic Discrimination (GOP/Chamber of Com block it in House)

Thu Feb 17, 5:06 PM ET y Joanne Kenen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously approved legislation to bar health insurers and employers from discriminating against people with a genetic predisposition to disease.

Sponsors said a growing understanding of the human genetic code created a need for protections to make sure scientific breakthroughs were used to promote health, not discrimination. Scientists believe every human has some genetic flaws.

The bill prevents health insurers from excluding people from coverage or charging them higher rates due to a genetic risk or predisposition to a disease. Insurers could not require customers to take genetic tests.

Employers would be barred from making hiring or firing decisions based on genetic information.

The measure covers public and private health plans, employers, employment agencies, labor organizations and training programs. It also tightens protections on the privacy of medical information. <snip>

[ck4829]

1. Blocking it created a Backdoor to Racism

Certain people of certain ethnicities and such are at higher risks for some diseases.

If the ability to get it is in the genes, this could be a backdoor for racism.

[papau]

2. I agree-it will be interesting once the racist GOP learn how many "whites"

carry "black genes" in the sense that things like sickle cell are color blind.