IN THE NEWS......

Senate Passes Genetic Nondiscrimination Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2008

The U.S. Senate has passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). GINA prohibits discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment.

"The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance supports GINA so that no one will be forced to choose between the potential benefits of genetic testing and keeping a job or health insurance," said Dr. Karen Orloff Kaplan, executive director.

The law will help decrease barriers for women to get genetic testing to find out if they are positive for inherited mutations in one of two genes. Called breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2), the genes increase a woman's risk for both breast and ovarian cancer. These genes are responsible for about five percent to 10 percent of all ovarian cancers.

The Senate version of the bill will be sent to the House of Representatives for vote. It is expected that the House will quickly pass GINA, and that President Bush will sign the bill into law. There is currently no federal law outlawing discrimination based on genetic information.

"We look forward to implementation of this law so that patients and their medical providers can make better treatment decisions with a full range of information, which, for many women, includes genetic information," Dr. Kaplan added.

No effective screening or early detection test exists for ovarian cancer, so genetic information is a crucial tool to predict risk of ovarian cancer. Because employers or health insurers can access genetic information, many women and their families are reluctant to learn their genetic background.

"Tributes" section now operational!
 

I am happy to announce that our new "Tributes" section of the site is now fully operational.  This section can not only be used to make a donation to the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Florida- Space Coast division, but your donation can be made "In Honor" or "In Memory" of someone who has touched your life and the lives of others.

To make your donation please click this link.  Please note that on the donation page, you should list your "Donation Designation" to "OCAF-Space Coast". All Tributes will be posted to the site within one week of your donation.

Thanks very much and please contact me with any questions!

Laura@tealribboncfl.com