Genetic testing can save lives. So, why isn\u2019t everyone getting it done? It turns out that companies are using the information from the tests to discriminate against applicants.<\/p>\n
While this is by no means a Jewish-specific issue, the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (NCJWC) and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) are taking the lead in urging the federal government to legislate against this discriminatory practice.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt NCJWC, our goals are for education, service and social action,\u201d said Sharon Allentuck, the organization\u2019s national president. \u201cSocial action includes writing to MPs, senators and the prime minister … [about] genetic testing and insurance denial.\u201d<\/p>\n
Genetic testing has been high on NCJWC\u2019s list of priorities for the past 25 to 30 years and it continues to be \u2013 not just with respect to concerns over insurance companies\u2019 actions, but also to increase public awareness of the importance of genetic testing.<\/p>\n
In Winnipeg, for example, a clinic is held every three to four years in conjunction with Health Sciences Centre geneticist Dr. Cheryl Greenberg. While, in the past, the main focus was on Tay-Sachs, the list keeps getting larger, as geneticists like Greenberg discover new gene connections. At the moment, the list stands at seven to eight different Jewish genetic diseases being studied.<\/p>\n
By getting a test done, one can be aware of a possible genetic problem that might affect oneself or one\u2019s children, if a person has children with another carrier of the same disease. This knowledge can provide people with peace of mind when choosing a partner.<\/p>\n
So far, though, this knowledge has come with a cost. When people apply for insurance, they are asked to disclose the results of their genetic testing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt came to our attention that insurance companies said to some people, \u2018You\u2019ve been tested, genetically. You have certain predispositions. Sorry, but we\u2019re going to deny you insurance,\u2019\u201d said Allentuck. \u201cIt\u2019s against human rights, it\u2019s discriminatory. Canada is the only G7 country that allows this to happen. And so, legislation [Bill S-201] preventing that discrimination was passed through the Senate and now it\u2019s in the House of Commons. We are asking our members and are working with CIJA to encourage [Jewish community] members to contact their members of Parliament to ensure the legislation passes.\u201d<\/p>\n
CIJA adds on its website, \u201cWe encourage provincial legislatures to pass complementary legislation, with a specific focus on employment and insurance.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information, visit NCJWC\u2019s website or Facebook page. Allentuck encouraged readers to become NCJWC Facebook friends in order to stay regularly updated on this and other important topics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t a Jewish issue,\u201d she said. \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean that Jewish people can\u2019t have a say in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebeca Kuropatwa<\/strong> is a Winnipeg freelance writer.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Genetic testing can save lives. So, why isn\u2019t everyone getting it done? It turns out that companies are using the information from the tests to discriminate against applicants. While this is by no means a Jewish-specific issue, the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (NCJWC) and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[6493,6492,3116],"class_list":["post-21601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-national","tag-bill-s-201","tag-genetic-testing","tag-privacy"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21601"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21601\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}