Health practitioners should balance the potential benefits of appropriate genetic testing against potential restriction to life and income-protection insurance when advising people about genetic testing, according an article published in the current issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.

Co-author of the paper, Dr Geoffrey Lindeman, and colleagues from the Family Cancer Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, said the potential for discrimination can be a concern for people with a family history of cancer or a genetic disorder who are considering genetic testing or counselling.

The actual incidence of 'genetic discrimination', however, is not known despite considerable media coverage of this issue.

"For those who undertake 'predictive testing' and are found not to carry the mutation, the costly burden of continuous surveillance or medical intervention and anxiety is usually lifted - for them and their descendents," Dr Lindeman said.

"Those who do carry the mutation can, where possible, be selected for close monitoring and cancer risk-reduction strategies.

Dr Lindeman said the clinical details required by insurers have received less media attention than the issue of 'genetic discrimination'.

"We obtained primary application and personal statement forms used by 21 different underwriters of voluntary life insurance and found substantial differences in the information requested about family history and genetic testing," he said.

"All insurance applications, however, contained a duty of disclosure that would require revealing the result, if known by the applicant, of a genetic test in a family member," Dr Lindeman said.

The article says submissions to the Australian Law Reform Commission and the Australian Health Ethics Committee indicate that a perceived fear of genetic discrimination in life insurance has caused individuals to avoid genetic testing.

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.

CONTACT:    

1.    Dr Geoffrey Lindeman (will be overseas between Friday 31 October - 7 November)

       Prior to midday 31 October: Mobile phone number 0413-863-286,
       Work phone number: (03) 9342-2165

2.    Rod Jackson-Smith, Media Relations officer (for further contact details):
       Mobile phone number 0417-156-214, Work phone number: (03) 9342 7469

3.    Judith Tokley, AMA, 0408 824 306