PROJECT B: THE THIRD PARTY PROJECT
The main third party areas that are being investigated
within the Genetic Discrimination Project are employment and insurance.
INSURERS
Aim: to explore and describe the
policies and practices of insurance companies in Australia regarding
the use of genetic risk as a factor for individual risk assessment
for the purposes of insurance underwriting in relation to life,
disability and other related forms of insurance.
Method:
- guidelines, policies and other documentation on the use of genetic
information in insurance underwriting will be collected from the
peak representative bodies in the insurance sector as well as
from individual insurers;
- data has been collected over several years on the life insurance
industry's use of genetic information for the purposes of underwriting
assessment. The Australian Institute of Actuaries collect, hold
and analyse the data on behalf of the life insurance industry's
peak body, the Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA).
IFSA approved access to the raw data from these surveys (in anonymised
form) for analysis by our research team .
- a national survey of Australian insurers from the general insurance
sector will be conducted with follow up interviews of selected
insurers.
INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS
Aim: to explore and describe the
resources and practices of brokers regarding the use of genetic
risk in insurance applications.
Method: a national survey of agents
and brokers will be conducted, with follow up interviews of selected
agents and brokers.
EMPLOYERS
Aim: to explore and describe the
policies and practices of Australian employers regarding the use
of genetic risk as a factor in making employment related decisions
and to examine attitudes and perspectives concerning the use of
genetic information in the workplace.
Method: a national survey with
follow up interviews of selected employers.
INTERESTED IN THE THIRD PARTY STUDY, THE
SURVEYS OR AN INTERVIEW?
If you would like to make contact with the researchers
undertaking the Third Party Study;
- please call Professor Margaret Otlowski Chief
Investigator on 03 6226 7569, or
Dr Mark Stranger, GDP Research Fellow on 03 6226 2773
- write to them at The Faculty of Law, Private
Bag 89, University of Tasmania, Hobart. Tasmania. 7001.
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