The present paper examines the professional and scientific views on the social, ethical and legal issues that impact on genetic information and testing in insurance and employment in Europe. For this purpose, many aspects have been considered, such as the concerns of medical geneticists, of the insurers and employers, of the public, as well as the regulatory frameworks and unresolved issues. The method used was primarily the review of the technical, social, economical and ethical aspects of advances in genetics and the concerns of parties who are involved, that is, the insurers, the employers and the public. The existing guidelines and legislation on this topic were also reported. Then, the method was to examine the issues debated by these parties in Europe, as well as by 47 experts from 14 European countries invited to an international workshop organized by the European Society of Human Genetics Public and Professional Policy Committee in Manchester, UK, 25-27 February 2000. The result of this was that the most important issues raised by genetic information and testing in insurance and employment in Europe include a need for clear definitions of terms used in genetics, declaring the grounds on which genetic information is or is not used, and promoting confidence between the public and the insurance industry. There is currently very little use of genetic information in relation to employment, but the situation should be kept under review.

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Introduction .—It has long been known that the dyspnœa produced by strenuous exercise, such as running or rowing, disappears if the work is continued and is replaced by a sense of great relief, the so-called “second wind.” A certain time is necessary for the adjustment or accommodation which produces this sensation; short-distance runners do not experience it, but those who are accustomed to long runs over the same course can predict at which lap or point they will obtain the relief of second wind. There are also individual differences; in some men the sensation is very definite, in others so indefinite that it is unrecognised. The observations of Cook and Pembrey showed that during dyspnœa the percentage of carbon dioxide in the alveolar air was raised above the resting value and the respiratory quotient was unity or above unity, but daring the hyperpnœa following the onset of second wind the percentage of carbon dioxide and the respiratory quotient fell; the amount of air breathed per minute was less during hyperpnœa than during dyspnœa; the rectal temperature showed a rise of about 1° F. during second wind, and as a rule there was a close association between the onset of sweating and second wind. Carbon dioxide appeared to be the chief factor in the adjustment of the respiratory and circulatory systems to the demands of the muscles for an adequate supply of blood.