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California Considers DNA Privacy Law

Posted by timothy on from the keep-your-information-under-wraps dept.

ananyo writes "California lawmakers are weighing a bill aimed at protecting their state's citizens from surreptitious genetic testing but scientists are voicing their growing concerns that, if passed, such a law would have a costly and damaging effect on research. The bill, dubbed the Genetic Information Privacy Act, would require an individual's written consent for the collection, analysis, retention, and sharing of his or her genetic information—including DNA, genetic test results, and even family disease history. The University of California has submitted a formal letter objecting to the bill, estimating that the measure could increase administrative costs by up to $594,000 annually — money which would come out of the cash-strapped state's General Fund. The university has also expressed concern that its researchers would suffer competitive losses in obtaining research grants."

4 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. The world's tiniest violin plays for UCLA by jbeach · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The University of California has submitted a formal letter objecting to the bill, estimating that the measure could increase administrative costs by up to $594,000 annually — money which would come out of the cash-strapped state's General Fund. The university has also expressed concern that its researchers would suffer competitive losses in obtaining research grants."

    Too bad for them people's rights can be so inconvenient and costly. Oh well.

    --
    The Invisible Hand of the Free Market is what punches workers in the nuts.
    1. Re:The world's tiniest violin plays for UCLA by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's just a consent form.

      There's a reason so many shitty things in this world are opt-out.
      If you make them opt-in, almost no one consents.
      If you make it opt-out, even a small amount of effort is too much for most people.

      You'd think the field of Medicine, with its strong emphasis on ethics, would understand the rational behind an opt-in system of DNA collection for research purposes.

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      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
    2. Re:The world's tiniest violin plays for UCLA by wrook · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I have no problem with researchers using my data to help with their research. I *do* have a problem if they receive a patent based on my data. I'm quite happy to have them do whatever research they want, but I don't like the idea that they will get exclusivity for something that was derived from something I gave them for free.

      Can we have a copyleft for our medical data? You can use it, but only if the result is free (as in freedom) to use.

  2. A far bigger concern by Grayhand · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Insurance companies would love to get their hands on this data. Got the genetic tendency for a form of cancer it doesn't matter if you never develop it your rates will go up or better yet you get canceled without notice.