PATIENT PRIVACY: Rep. Slaughter Speaks at Convention

      Speaking in the early hours of the Democratic National Convention yesterday, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) discussed the importance of protecting genetic and medical information from "big business," the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reports. "We want privacy, not piracy," Slaughter said, adding, "We want protection, not exploitation. Our health information should be our business, not big business." In 1995, Slaughter proposed legislation in Congress to outlaw genetic discrimination, but that bill was never passed. She claims that House Republicans defended health insurance and drug companies by blocking the measure. According to Slaughter, discrimination is already an issue for some individuals who have been denied work promotions and positions as a result of disclosed information about inherited diseases. "A Democratic 107th Congress will pass [a privacy protection] bill, and President Gore will sign it into law," she said (Caputo, 8/18).