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Article: Genetic testing thorny for insurers. (privacy issue vs. the value of new information) (part 2)
- Article from:
- National Underwriter Life & Health-Financial Services Edition
- Article date:
- November 26, 1990
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1990 Summit Business Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Genetic Testing Thorny For Insurers
Advances in genetic research have created a unique paradox for insurers. On the one hand, new information is or will be available on a variety of genetic illnesses. But the costs of the tests as well as the potential public outcry over privacy issues make widespread screening a particularly thorny issue.
Debbie Chase, a spokesperson for the American Council of Life Insurance, admitted that a life industry is "somewhat defensive" after a series of stories in the popular press, prompted by the research of Dr. Paul Billings, formerly of the Harvard Medical School.
One case study, which has appeared frequently in ...