To prevent discrimination against people based on genetic background
Only institutes, laboratories or places that have received approval from the Ministry of Health will be allowed to conduct genetic tests on humans - this is how the draft law "Protection of identifying genetic information" that will soon be submitted for approval to the Knesset in second and third reading states. The bill, initiated by MK Meir Shetrit (Likud), also prohibits discrimination based on information from genetic testing, both in employment and in life insurance or sickness and disability insurance.
The Knesset's Science Committee prepared for the second and third reading a draft law on the protection of identifying genetic information, 2000
15/11/2000
According to the bill: genetic information concerning an individual will be confidential and beyond that discrimination is prohibited in hiring a person and discrimination is prohibited in arranging life insurance or sickness and disability insurance based on information obtained from genetic testing.
After many long discussions, which began in the 14th Knesset, today the Knesset's Science Committee, chaired by MK Anat Maor, approved for the second and third reading a bill by MK Meir Sheetrit, protection of identifying genetic information.
The bill states that only institutes, laboratories or places that receive the approval of the Ministry of Health are allowed to conduct genetic tests on humans. The proposal also regulates who can be a genetic counselor and what are the rules that must be followed when giving the subject the results of the genetic test. Beyond that, the proposal determines what the necessary conditions are
to take place when conducting the genetic test, and that the subjects must be explained what the test is, its goals and what information can be obtained from it. According to the bill, care must be taken in the manner in which the results of the genetic tests will be delivered, as well as the manner in which the genetic samples are kept. In addition, the proposal prohibits discrimination based on information obtained from both genetic testing
in employment and in arranging life insurances or sickness and disability insurances.
MK Meir Shetrit, the initiator of the proposal, noted that the proposal was accepted after dozens of meetings were held with the best genetic experts in Israel and government ministries starting with the previous Knesset where the legislative initiative on this issue began and while examining comparable legal arrangements in the world such as England, the Netherlands and other countries. According to him, this proposal is necessary In view of the fact that the subject of genetic testing in Israel is not regulated at all and is completely out of date, and beyond that, the proposal according to him relevant and important even in light of the fact that
The human genome project is going to end these days and the genetic tests, as a result, will become an integral part in Israel and the world.
According to the chairman of the committee, MK Anat Maor, this is a bill of utmost importance, both in the field of privacy protection and in the field of the protection of various human rights such as: the prohibition of discrimination in employment and the right of every person to insure himself with life insurance. The importance of this bill is particularly great in light of the various scientific developments in the field of genetic research. According to the chairman of the committee, MK Anat Maor, this bill represents a proper balance between the need for research in the field of genetic information in the State of Israel and the protection of human rights.
