Friends & Families, How To Speak Doctor, In Brief
Not Such A Brave New World: Patients Worry DNA Testing Will Expose Them To Consequences
News Brief
The number of Americans taking advantage of precautionary DNA testing appears to be going down, and the reason is thought to be fear of genetic discrimination from health insurers and employers.
Some health experts are so concerned that they have called for new legislation to protect US citizens from being discriminated against should their DNA test reveal health risks.
A bill which was passed by the House of Representatives last year and is yet to reach the Senate, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, would prohibit insurers from denying benefits or raising premiums as a results of genetic information, and it would probit employers from collecting or making use of genetic information for hiring, firing or compensation decisions.
Source: Medical News Today, February 25, 2008
Topics: Friends & Families, How To Speak Doctor, In Brief
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