An Auckland geneticist is asking for a ban on insurance companies using genetic tests to justify rising premiums or denying insurance cover entirely. His appeal comes following a new medical journal published last week which revealed cases of genetic discrimination reported by patients in the country.
Andrew Shelling, director for the Centre of Cancer Research at the University of Auckland, said that patients at risk of genetic diseases were being put off from genetic tests as it could affect their insurance coverage. This situation results in more people being exposed to genetic diseases due to their refusal to participate in what could be life-saving early interventions.
In a report from RNZ, Shelling said that the medical journal’s authors, which included members of Against Genetic Discrimination Aotearoa, aimed to share their experiences and concerns about the potential misuse of information stemming from these genetic tests.
"They can legally ask for and use genetic test results for underwriting decisions, and it might mean that they actually deny access to health and life insurance, or increase their premiums," Shelling said. "As a result of that it's putting people off having these life-saving genetic tests, and affecting the future health and well being."
The medical article, which was published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, revealed that half of the patients of 23 professionals reported genetic discrimination, with some patients refusing tests in case it affected their policies.
"Progressively over the last few years, we've developed quite an arsenal of, of genetic tests that can really make a huge difference in people's lives … where early detection of these can lead to much better outcomes and tips, early screening and detection and surgery can make a dramatic impact on somebody's health risk in the future,” Shelling said.
The fear of being discriminated against, however, had led some New Zealanders to skip these tests. Shelling said that this is a situation that other governments in the world have already acted against. Citing Canada as an example, he called for the government to introduce legislation and a ban to curb genetic discrimination and help people who are predisposed to certain diseases.
"New Zealand's completely out of step. We're the last country of similar types that's allowing this to happen in our country. And most of us don't think that's right. We've been left behind, and I don't think any New Zealanders like the idea that we [are significantly] behind our colleagues and other countries around the world,” he said.
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