Should genetic information be disclosed to insurers? No
BMJ 2007; 334 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39216.425231.AD (Published 07 June 2007) Cite this as: BMJ 2007;334:1197- Richard Ashcroft, professor of biomedical ethics
- Queen Mary, University of London, Institute of Health Sciences Education, London E1 2AT
- r.ashcroft{at}qmul.ac.uk
A strong case can be made for requiring people who have had genetic tests to disclose that fact to insurers when they purchase life, critical illness, or health insurance policies. There are essentially three arguments for this position: that genetic information is not essentially different from other kinds of health information, that non-compulsory insurance depends on full and truthful disclosure by the applicant to protect the integrity of insurance underwriting and risk pooling, and that because insurance is a private arrangement between freely contracting parties, each party is entitled to set the terms of the contract in negotiation.
I would accept all of this. Indeed, it is the consensus in both the academic and the policy …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £184 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£50 / $60/ €56 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.