Genetics, society and insurance

1
Genetics, society and insurance

• Margo Trappenburg

USBO
2
Professor John Harris (1945) University of
Manchester
3
General ethical theories

• Utilitarian philosophy, e.g. John Harris
  maximize overall happiness.
• Ambition sensitive and endowment insensitive.

4
This is not the way we do it

• Moral norms are different in different political
  communities.
• E.g. abortion/PND in China, India versus
  abortion in Europa, US
• E.g. euthanasia in US versus euthanasia in the
  Netherlands

5
Spheres of justice in liberal countries
Political sphere Majority decides Divine grace Sphere of the market Free exchange
Political sphere Majority decides Love and affection Sphere of the market Free exchange
Political sphere Majority decides Medical care Sphere of the market Free exchange
Political sphere Majority decides Education Sphere of the market Free exchange
Political sphere Majority decides Welfare Sphere of the market Free exchange
Political sphere Majority decides -- Sphere of the market Free exchange
Political sphere Majority decides -- Sphere of the market Free exchange
Political sphere Majority decides Sphere of the market Free exchange
6
Sphere of medical care

• Distribution according to need
• (not according to wealth, guilt, not ambition
  sensitive)
• Genetic technology was first developed in this
  sphere.

7
Genetics in the sphere of health care

• IVF according to medical need
• PND for medical reasons
• PGD for medical reasons

8
Crossing borders I

• Using medical technology (e.g. genetics) for non
  medical purposes debate about eugenics

Political sphere Health care Market Free exchange
Political sphere Market Free exchange
9
Crossing borders II

• Having a medical condition while being a consumer
• Some analogies

10
Buying life insurance

• The history of genetic exceptionalism
• Ambition sensitive and endowment insensitive
  after all?

Ine van Hoyweghen, Risks in the Making. Travels
in Life Insurance and Genetics 2007
11
Abandoning genetic exceptionalism?

• What would happen? Small group? Large group?
• Is life insurance justly perceived as a market
  good? If not, what is it?

12
Conclusion

• Abandoning genetic exceptionalism seems the right
  thing to do provided we manage to keep other
  societal spheres (education, medical care,
  welfare) free from market interference.