A new bill means that many people will no longer have to disclose previous disease to banks, employers, or insurance companies. Marta Paterlini reports. The Italian Chamber of Deputies has unanimously approved a new bill on a “right to be forgotten” (RTBF) law for cancer patients. According to the law, approved on Aug 3, people who have recovered from cancer would no longer be required to provide information relating to previous illnesses when stipulating contracts for banking, financial, insurance, or employment services. The RTBF law is a protection provision that abolishes the obligation to declare having been ill with cancer, to prevent any form of discrimination linked to a person's state of health. Previously, a history of cancer has led to people having their mortgage applications refused, insurance denied, being charged more for financial services, and being unable to adopt a child. The new legislation aims to prevent similar occurrences in the future and, unlike similar regulations in other countries, the Italian regulation also stipulates that recognition of suitability for adults to adopt a child can no longer be denied to those who have recovered from cancer. The new law says that there is no need to disclose having been ill for people who had a solid tumour in childhood if they finished treatment at least 5 years ago, or for people who had a solid tumour in adulthood if they finished treatment at least 10 years ago.
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