The following poem is from a collection of 41 written by me to try describing Huntington’s Disease (HD).

In October 2000 Britain became the first country to approve the commercial use of gene technology to allow insurers to refuse cover or to push up premiums for those born with genes that could lead to fatal conditions. HD was singled out as the only case allowed immediate discrimination because of the reliability of the test. This meant for a person having tested “positive” insurers gained the right to refuse to insure or legally load the premium to extortionate levels (300% has been cited).

If, for example, a person took the test at 18 yet did not go on to develop the symptoms until 60 (late onset), they would face 42 years of unnecessary discrimination. There seems to have been no acceptance of the fact until symptoms start showing… the person with the gene does not have HD!

Frank is captured and fights the law – or joins it through negotiation.