ABSTRACT
Genetic discrimination (GD) is a complex, multifaceted ethical, psychosocial, and legal phenomenon. It is defined as the differential treatment of asymptomatic individuals or their relatives on the basis of their real or assumed genetic characteristics. This article presents an overview of GD within the contemporary international context. It describes the concept of GD and its contextual features, reviews research evidence regarding people's experiences of GD and the impact of GD within a range of domains, and provides an overview of legal and policy responses to GD that have emerged globally. We argue that GD is a significant and internationally established phenomenon that requires multilevel responses to ensure social justice and equitable outcomes for all citizens. Future research should monitor GD and its impacts within the community as well as institutions and should evaluate the effectiveness of legislative, policy, community education, and systemic responses.
Subject(s)
Genetics, Medical/legislation & jurisprudence , Social Discrimination/legislation & jurisprudence , Employment/legislation & jurisprudence , Genetics, Medical/ethics , Humans , Insurance/ethics , Insurance/legislation & jurisprudence , Internationality/legislation & jurisprudence , Public Policy , Social Discrimination/ethics , Social Discrimination/psychology , Social JusticeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: General practitioners will often consult with patients in situations where professional skill is required to support a decision regarding insurance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to assist doctors' understanding of the basis of insurance and risk, in order to support their own practice in this important area. DISCUSSION: This article provides information about insurance and the professional skills required to assist in decisions made by insurance companies (for which, commercial factors predominate), and/or by patients (in whom, social and emotional factors may be more important). A quality improvement activity is provided for those interested in making changes to their practice.
Subject(s)
Insurance , Physician's Role , Australia , Confidentiality , Ethics, Medical , General Practice , Humans , Insurance/ethics , Physician-Patient Relations , Risk Assessment , Social ResponsibilitySubject(s)
Codes of Ethics , Sports Medicine/ethics , Confidentiality/ethics , Conflict of Interest , Disclosure/ethics , Ethics, Medical , Humans , Insurance/ethics , Interprofessional Relations/ethics , Physician's Role , Physician-Patient Relations/ethics , Professional Practice/ethics , Social Responsibility , Social SupportABSTRACT
Each year individuals are required to execute millions of authorizations for the release of their health records as a condition of employment, applying for various types of insurance, and submitting claims for benefits. Generally, there are no restrictions on the scope of information released pursuant to these compelled authorizations, and the development of a nationwide system of interoperable electronic health records will increase the amount of health information released. After quantifying the extent of these disclosures, this article discusses why it is important to limit disclosures of health information for nonmedical purposes as well as how it may be possible to do so.
