Table 3.
Reasons for supporting CHEO
| Arguments supporting the CHEO hospital | Number of tweets |
|---|---|
| • Protect patient care (e.g., access to diagnostics) | 57 |
| • It’s morally wrong to own/patent genes | 19 |
| • Lawsuit can help clear confusion on gene patents | 15 |
| • Saving $200,000 in health care cost annually | 1 |
| • US gene test monopoly | 1 |
| Arguments against gene patents in principle | |
| • Negative impact on patient care | 25 |
| • It’s morally wrong to own gene patents, or patient sharing of life-saving information | 23 |
| • Discovery of genes is not invention | 13 |
| • Gene patents invalidated in the US | 3 |
| • Patenting human genes is the same as owing humans | 2 |
| • Genetic test monopoly | 1 |