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- Title
What Legal Frameworks Should Govern Use of Genetic Test Results by Private Health Insurers in New Zealand?
- Authors
Janes, Hanne
- Abstract
The rising cost of private health insurance and constraints within public health systems are global concerns. Genetic testing presents a transformative opportunity for health care to enhance health outcomes and optimise resource allocation through personalised medicine, early diagnosis, targeted treatments, managed care, and improved drug development. However, ethical and policy issues arise, including privacy, discrimination and equitable access to testing. Balancing these against potential health benefits poses a complex challenge. While some advocate for restricting health insurers from using genetic data, others argue that well-regulated private insurance can ensure affordability, improved health outcomes, and innovative care adoption. This article explores examples of improved health outcomes through genetic testing, identifies areas of risk related to insurers' use of genetic data, evaluates the adequacy of New Zealand's legal framework, and emphasises the need for ethical and equitable policy solutions. The broader issues of data governance, biases in algorithms, and implications of artificial intelligence and machine learning warrant separate exploration.
- Subjects
NEW Zealand; HEALTH insurance laws; GENETIC testing laws; DIFFUSION of innovations; HEALTH policy; ARTIFICIAL intelligence; PRIVACY; PRIVATE sector; EVALUATION of medical care; MACHINE learning; INDIVIDUALIZED medicine; DRUG development; EARLY diagnosis; DISCRIMINATION (Sociology); GENETIC testing; INSURANCE companies; ALGORITHMS; MEDICAL ethics
- Publication
Journal of Law & Medicine, 2023, Vol 30, Issue 4, p862
- ISSN
1320-159X
- Publication type
Article