Switzerland has opened door to genetic discrimination, say ethicists

A new law on genetic testing in Switzerland has opened the door to discrimination by insurance companies against people with hereditary diseases, an ethics group has said.

Pascale Steck, from the pressure group Basler Appeal against Gene Technology, accused the government of putting the interests of insurance companies ahead of the needs of the population after it passed laws allowing insurance companies to have limited access to the results of genetic tests.

Under the new rules insurance companies will be able to see results of genetic tests in cases where policy holders plan to take out life insurance policies worth more than SFr400 000 (£180 000; $320 000 €260 000).

Ms Steck said that letting private insurance companies gain access to …