Slashdot Mirror
Privacy Fears Send DNA Tests Underground
biobricks writes "The New York Times is reporting that people who could benefit from genetic testing are too afraid their health insurance companies are going to raise their rates or deny them coverage to find out the health information contained in their own genes. There is a growing "genetic underground" where people pay for their own tests so they won't have to share the results with insurers, and beg doctors not to divulge their genetic status in medical records. A bill that would ban genetic discrimination by insurers and employers — and presumably make people feel safer about taking care of their health — is stalled in the Senate. We've discussed these types of personal DNA tests in the past."
was that the results are mailed ONLY to the test subject. The paper the patient gave me with the lab address to mail to specifically stated that they will not release the results to anybody else, not even the doctor unless there is a signed document declaring that this is the patients decision. Granted this is only one lab, but Im hoping its the same for all labs.
Consider that the National Association for the Self-Employed offers the following on their policies: you pay a monthly premium from now until you're 65. Your premium never goes up. When you get there, they say, ok, lets look at your claims against the insurance. They add them up. Then add up the premiums you've paid. And they give you the difference if anything is left over. Apparently, they invest the money because i was told that if I started today, i would have about $800k in premiums paid. Then they would deduct the claims and give me the difference. They are the first company I've heard of that does this. Had I know about this, I would have done it a long time ago.
The diversity and expression of human opinion is essential to human survival.
I think this is pretty interesting, because 100% of the time, I have to fight to get a solid copy of lab reports on blood work, and half the time the staff at the doctor's office (across several offices) will look at me like I'm some kind of freak because I want copies of my own medical tests and doctor's notes. I can ask that copies of whatever's produced by a test be sent to my home address as well as the ordering doctor's office and they never, ever come. Not once.
The only effective way I've found to actually get records is to tell them I want records faxed to another doctor... at a number I receive at.
If my experience is any indication, most patients don't have *access* to their own medical records, let alone control over them.
Tweet, tweet.