The Federal Government today introduced legislation to ban life insurers from discriminating against applicants based on genetic testing.

This is the culmination of a decade of advocacy by Monash legal and genomic expert Dr Jane Tiller, who has worked closely with the government on the reform, including leading a three-year research project that explored stakeholder views to inform the new legislation.

Dr Jane Tiller, Ethical, Legal and Social Adviser in Public Health Genomics at Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and project co-lead of Monash’s DNA Screen programContact: +61 413 741 187 or jane.tiller@monash.edu  Read more of Dr Tiller’s commentary atMonash Lens

Genetic testing and counselling

Legal and ethical implications of genetic testing

Public health management and advocacy

Comments attributable to Dr Tiller:

“Genetic testing can save lives by identifying people who are at a very high genetic risk of disease that can be prevented or treated early. This includes certain cancers and heart disease. With this genetic risk information, people can access greater surveillance, medication, surgical options or other forms of preventive treatment.

“But many Australians have been afraid to have genetic testing that could save their lives, because of the potential financial implications of their genetic test results. Life insurers can still legally use genetic test results to deny coverage, increase the cost of premiums or place conditions on cover. This means people are making decisions about genetic testing based on insurance fears, not health needs.

“Choosing not to have genetic testing means people could miss out on critical health information and access to early intervention or prevention, which can be life-saving. 

“The new legislation will change that. It will allow people to have genetic testing without worrying about the implications for their life insurance in future. It will enable genetic research and investment into the development of DNA screening programs. It will increase public trust in genomics and remove barriers to preventive health.”