By a vote of 95-0 this afternoon, the Senate passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007, as amended. The five Senators not voting were Clinton (D-NY), DeMint (R-SC), Gregg (R-NH), McCain (R-AZ), and Obama (D-IL). Prior to passage of the bill, Senator Snowe introduced an amendment to H.R. 493 (SA 4573 [pdf]) that passed….
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New BC health law could lead to privacy abuse
Pamela Fayerman of the Vancouver Sun reports: Legislation paving the way for the collection and sharing of electronic health records opens the door for massive privacy security breaches, say groups opposed to the Bill which will soon get second reading. The way Bill 24 is drafted, B.C. residents could find their private health records circulating…
Kansas District Attorney Files Response to State on Needing Abortion Files
Steven Ertelt writes on LifeNews.com: A Kansas district attorney has filed a brief in relation to an investigation he’s conducting into a Planned Parenthood that allegedly did illegal late-term abortions, falsified medical records and violated other state laws. Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline says he needs abortion reports the state has about the abortion…
Congress Near Deal on Genetic Test Bias Bill
Andrew Pollack reports in the New York Times: Congress reached an agreement clearing the way for a bill to prohibit discrimination by employers and health insurers on the basis of genetic tests. Senator Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican who had been almost single-handedly holding up action on the bill, said in an interview Tuesday that…
Ca: Brampton teen's suicide tied to privacy law
Once again, a school believes that they cannot divulge a student’s mental health issues to the student’s parents. And once again, the results are disastrous for the student…. Robyn Doolittle reports in the Toronto Star: Although the school was aware Nadia Kajouji had been suffering from depression, privacy laws prevented counsellors from contacting the girl’s…
Snowe's genetic privacy bill wins support
The Portland Press Herald reports: Senate Democrats and Republicans struck a deal on Tuesday to consider landmark legislation protecting genetic privacy. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Olympia Snowe, a Republican, would prevent health insurance companies and employers from discriminating against those who could be predisposed to a disease or illness based on a genetic test….