Senator Jim Cowan fights for genetic discrimination to be illegal
No matter what benefits genetic screening may provide, many have faced genetic discrimination. The leader of the opposition in the Senate, Jim Cowan won't stand for it. He's been advocating for a new Genetic Non-Discrimination Act to give Canadians the protection they deserve.
In 2011 we spoke with Katie Lingard, whose father has Huntington's disease. Multiple companies denied Katie insurance coverage for her practise as a chiropractor because she refused to be screened for the disease.
Eventually Katie Lingard did manage to get insurance, but her story is not unique.
Senator Jim Cowan, the leader of the Opposition in the Senate, has been advocating to make genetic discrimination illegal. But his bill was gutted last month... and is now likely to fail.
Senator James Cowan joined us from Halifax.
This segment was produced by The Current's Sarah Grant.