Bioethics: April 2008 Archives
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act 95 to 0. The Bill, which is expected to shortly sail through the House and then be signed by the President, aims at the two areas of concern over the abuse of DNA testing: it will make it illegal for insurers to deny health coverage to someone on the basis of genetic information and will bar employers from hiring or firing anyone on the basis of such information.
You might recall this office raised precisely these concerns when arguing that NBA center Eddie Curry could not be compelled by his then employer, the Chicago Bulls, to undergo genetic testing for hypercadiomyopathy. The Bulls ultimately backed down from the demand and traded Curry to the New York Knicks.
The Senate Bill will be welcome protection to citizens in this brave new world where DNA testing may reveal our propensities, but not our certainties, to contract certain diseases, become addicted to certain behaviors, or engage in certain socially undesirable activities.
Here is an excellent essay by Paul Gelsinger and Adil Shamoo about whether any real change has occurred since Jesse Gelsinger’s death eight years ago.
