Still using genetic data? A comparative review of Canadian life insurance application forms before and after the GNDA
Genetic testing's increased availability has raised concerns about “genetic discrimination” (GD), where individuals may face unfair treatment, particularly when purchasing personal insurance, because of their genetic characteristics. In 2017, Canada passed the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (GN...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | FACETS |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2023-0101 |
| _version_ | 1797357441927610368 |
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| author | Amy Fernando Emma Kondrup Katherine Cheung Diya Uberoi Yann Joly |
| author_facet | Amy Fernando Emma Kondrup Katherine Cheung Diya Uberoi Yann Joly |
| author_sort | Amy Fernando |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Genetic testing's increased availability has raised concerns about “genetic discrimination” (GD), where individuals may face unfair treatment, particularly when purchasing personal insurance, because of their genetic characteristics. In 2017, Canada passed the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (GNDA) to prevent GD. This manuscript reviews post-GNDA life insurance application forms and compares them with pre-2014 application forms to assess the impact of the GNDA on insurance practices in Canada. Based on our comparative assessment, we found that the GNDA has had a modest impact on the practice of life insurers in Canada. Our study also confirms that questions about family history of disease and broadly formulated inquiries are still used on life insurance application forms. Both can, in the absence of clear instructions, lead applicants to disclose protected genetic information. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:45:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-826ee51f62984402b1802bb1770b786e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2371-1671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:45:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | FACETS |
| spelling | doaj.art-826ee51f62984402b1802bb1770b786e2024-01-11T12:00:12ZengCanadian Science PublishingFACETS2371-16712024-01-01911010.1139/facets-2023-0101Still using genetic data? A comparative review of Canadian life insurance application forms before and after the GNDAAmy Fernando0Emma Kondrup1Katherine Cheung2Diya Uberoi3Yann Joly4McGill Genome Centre, 740 Av. Docteur-Penfield, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, CanadaMcGill Genome Centre, 740 Av. Docteur-Penfield, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, CanadaMcGill Genome Centre, 740 Av. Docteur-Penfield, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, CanadaMcGill Genome Centre, 740 Av. Docteur-Penfield, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, CanadaMcGill Genome Centre, 740 Av. Docteur-Penfield, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, CanadaGenetic testing's increased availability has raised concerns about “genetic discrimination” (GD), where individuals may face unfair treatment, particularly when purchasing personal insurance, because of their genetic characteristics. In 2017, Canada passed the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (GNDA) to prevent GD. This manuscript reviews post-GNDA life insurance application forms and compares them with pre-2014 application forms to assess the impact of the GNDA on insurance practices in Canada. Based on our comparative assessment, we found that the GNDA has had a modest impact on the practice of life insurers in Canada. Our study also confirms that questions about family history of disease and broadly formulated inquiries are still used on life insurance application forms. Both can, in the absence of clear instructions, lead applicants to disclose protected genetic information.https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2023-0101genetic discriminationgenetic testinglife insuranceethics and geneticsGenetic Non-Discrimination Act (GNDA)insurance and genetics |
| spellingShingle | Amy Fernando Emma Kondrup Katherine Cheung Diya Uberoi Yann Joly Still using genetic data? A comparative review of Canadian life insurance application forms before and after the GNDA FACETS genetic discrimination genetic testing life insurance ethics and genetics Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (GNDA) insurance and genetics |
| title | Still using genetic data? A comparative review of Canadian life insurance application forms before and after the GNDA |
| title_full | Still using genetic data? A comparative review of Canadian life insurance application forms before and after the GNDA |
| title_fullStr | Still using genetic data? A comparative review of Canadian life insurance application forms before and after the GNDA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Still using genetic data? A comparative review of Canadian life insurance application forms before and after the GNDA |
| title_short | Still using genetic data? A comparative review of Canadian life insurance application forms before and after the GNDA |
| title_sort | still using genetic data a comparative review of canadian life insurance application forms before and after the gnda |
| topic | genetic discrimination genetic testing life insurance ethics and genetics Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (GNDA) insurance and genetics |
| url | https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2023-0101 |
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