From Bryn Glover
Helen Thomson discusses some concerns about sequencing babies’ genes (11 April, p 8) but does not mention the effect on the future cost of healthcare for the babies concerned.
In countries such as the UK where the principle still (just) holds that free healthcare is provided from taxation solely on the basis of need, this should not be a problem. But in countries that rely to varying extents on commercial insurance companies to pay for people’s healthcare, the existence of full genome information would have quite different implications.
It is well established – at least in folklore – that employers not only check job applicants’ social media accounts, but also look askance at applicants who do not have such accounts; what have they got to hide? Might not the same attitude develop among health insurers when good healthy genomes attract a discount, with those who make no sequence available being penalised as potential bad risks?
Glasshouses, North Yorkshire, UK
