Thread: Senate (2/24/2008) Passes HR493 (Does right thing for change

Senate Watch - 4/24/2008
(via CSpan2; 11:35am PT)

Senate does the right thing for a change.

Passes HR493 The Genetic Discrimination Bill.

Final Vote - Yes: 95 No: 0

Key Points of Bill -

* Forbids the discrimination against anyone based upon genetic or familial genetic relations.

* Prohibits discrimination against anyone based on personal genetic information.

* Prohibits disclosure or purchase of genetic information by any health plan or insurers.

* Forbids insurance companies from denying coverage or raising premiums based on genetics.

* Forbids insurers and employers from requiring people to submit to genetic testing.

* Prohibits labor organizations from denying membership based on genetic information.


[Of course, in an ideal world, you wouldn't need a [new] law to enforce the correct moral behavior onto big business... They should already know that the use of genetic information to discriminate is wrong - it isn't any more complicated than that. ]

I agree, from the information you provided it sounds like a no brainer.

I'll bet the health insurance companies had their lobbyist out in full force against this bill.

Would this include King Edward releasing his genetic testing into the public realm and it showing beyond doubt inferior traits along the entire genome sequence? Would it then be discrimination to bash Kennedy and to call him inferior?