The US Supreme Court ruled June 13 that isolated human genes, including the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes so prevalent in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, cannot be patented.
The ruling essentially takes away testing for BRCA gene mutations, which can increase the risk for breast, ovarian and other cancers, from Myriad Genetics and opens it up to other companies, resulting in more affordable tests and improved patient care.
Prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling, if a person met certain criteria such as a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer, health insurance generally covered testing for the affected individual and family members.
Without insurance, however, the BRCA test costs between $3,000 and $4,000.
The American Medical Association praised the Supreme Court’s ruling, calling it “a clear victory for patients that will expand medical discovery and preserve access to innovative diagnosis and treatment options.”
Prof. Lori Andrews of the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law concurs, saying the ruling “allows any doctor or scientist to use the breast cancer gene for diagnosis and treatment,” and that all genetic tests will become affordable and enable researchers to look for cures.
This is welcome news for anyone who might not fit the standard criteria for BRCA testing but still believes the test has the potential to save their lives and those of their daughters, sisters — and men — they love so dearly. Remember, πJudaism says when you save one life, you save the world entire.
Copyright © 2013 by the Intermountain Jewish News
