Would you get tested for genetic disorders if it would potentially save your life? Would you risk getting tested if you thought the results could be used to significantly raise your insurance premiums or lead to problems with potential employers? Too many people are choosing to avoid tests to avoid the risks. With no real clarity in the law on this point (no significant court cases have decided the matter and there is a bill pending in Congress which remains unpassed) there is still al lot of uncertainty out there. The result is that people and their doctors may not be getting what could be critical information in managing their health. The result also is cost on the backend for treating serious illnesses versus practicing prevention.
We have this great technology resulting in new medical prevention capabilities. Shouldn’t we get people comfortable enough so they can use it? How do we do that? What would you do if something serious ran in your family?
For more on DNA screening for genetic predisposition for illnesses see the Mayo clinic site here. Also see more general information on the issue here as well as the text of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007, which has passed the House but is on hold in the Senate, here.
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