US Congress tries again to propose genetic discrimination legislation 01/02/07. By the Public Health Genetics Unit The US House of Representatives has introduced legislation aimed at protecting individuals against potential genetic discrimination in the areas of employment and the provision of health insurance.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 [PDF 184KB] was introduced in the US House of Representatives in January 2007. The text of the draft bill notes that federal law addressing genetic discrimination is incomplete and that State laws vary widely, creating inconsistencies. This 'patchwork' of legislation is confusing to the medical community as well as to the public. Federal legislation is therefore needed to create a uniform national and basic standard to protect the public from discrimination and allay their fears regarding this issue.

With protections in place, it is hoped that people will be more likely to take advantage of genetic therapies, such as genetic testing.

This is certainly not the first time such legislation has been introduced in either the House or the Senate. Senate-led attempts in 2003 and 2005 were passed unanimously within the Senate (see News: US Senate approves anti-genetic discrimination legislation 18/02/05), only for the legislation to 'die' in committee in the House of Representatives.

News: US Senate approves anti-genetic discrimination legislation

Senator Barak Obama's 2006 draft bill on personalised medicine also addressed genetic discrimination issues, but never progressed beyond the Senate committee review stage. This 2007 draft bill may have a better chance with the new Democratic majority in Congress, provided agreements on the text can be reached.

In addition, President Bush has spoken out in favour of legislation. Recently at a visit to the National Institutes of Heath he told reporters: "If a person is willing to share his or her genetic information, it is important that that information not be exploited in improper ways, and Congress can pass good legislation to prevent that from happening."

Adapted from a news release by the Public Health Genetics Unit.

Image credit: Julie Desmond