Insurance industry representatives have backed calls by the Human Genetics Commission (HGC) to imple...
Insurance industry representatives have backed calls by the Human Genetics Commission (HGC) to implement tough legislation on the use and storage of genetic data.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI), the Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS) and Virgin Money have all shown their support for the HGC report, which says it should be a criminal offence to test someone's DNA or get access to their genetic information without their knowledge or consent.
After a year's consultation with the public, various organisations and its own consultative panel, the HGC says measures should be introduced to protect individuals from unfair genetic discrimination ' an issue which has caused plenty of discussion in the insurance sector.
Governance of research databases and DNA collections should be overseen by an independent body, which is separate to the owners and users of the database, continues the report.
The findings also say genetic databases established for health-related research purposes should not be used for any other purposes, and that police and other similar bodies should not have access to genetic research databases.
However, independent arrangements should also be made for forensic DNA databases and research, says the HGC, so advances in forensic techniques keep pace with public attitudes. The Inside Information report comes just less than a year into the ABI's five-year moratorium on the use of genetic testing in protection and medical plans, which has been imposed while officials try to assess the impact genetic testing might have on insurance underwriting and premiums.
The ABI argues it prompted a debate into genetic testing by imposing the moratorium, but adds new models of insurance will eventually need to be implemented once the moratorium ends.
However, Virgin Money is less forgiving of the insurance sector and applauds the report as a clear warning to the insurance industry.
Gordon Maw, marketing manager at Virgin Money, is concerned the existing moratorium, announced by the ABI in November 2001 is not compulsory, and insurers can still ask for genetic results in relation to Huntingdon's disease where life cover is worth more than £500,000.
'There is a clear warning here for the insurance industry. Companies that break the existing voluntary moratorium could face legal action in future so this is a necessary and positive step forward to protect consumer interests given the insurance industry's recent track record with self-policing guidelines. We have long argued the usefulness of genetic test results for life insurance purposes was negligible at best and that only by introducing a robust legislative framework could we hope to restore public confidence in the industry,' he said.
