Your Boss May Soon Be Able To Access Your DNA

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/should-companies-be-allowed-to-demand-your-genetic-test-results/

http://fortune.com/2017/03/10/genetic-testing-workplace-wellness-bill/

A new bill that is being proposed could require employees to get genetic testing in order to receive insurance from their employer. While many are concerned that this could cause their rates to go up, it is being presented as an incentive that could save employees money on their healthcare. Agreeing to get the testing could apparently save an employee up to 30% on their insurance, as their genetic test provides information about their family history and any potential illness that they are at risk for. I think that providing a company with your DNA would not be beneficial and would end up in raising rates for people based on their genes, which is discrimination. I think it could be helpful for a patient's doctors to have a sample of their genetic test, but there is no logical reason that a company needs to have this information and it would lead to more harm than good. If this bill is going to require genetic testing for healthcare under the guise of improving "employee wellness", it should require the employee to give that information to their doctor's, not their company, because their doctors can use preventative measures to treat them, while their boss might use their genes as an excuse to fire them.

Employees who decline genetic testing could face penalties under proposed bill

A new bill proposed by U.S. House committee would impose hefty penalties on employees who decline to participate in genetic testing as part of a new wellness program. Programs such as these offer discounts on health  insurance to employees who complete the health risk assessment. The downside is that companies can charge people for acts that they feel cause health risks. The proposed bill has received strong criticism from many groups citing discrimination. I agree that this bill is discriminatory due to the fact that when your health fails, more than likely your health insurance rates will go up. The people who really need the help will be left behind.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/03/11/employees-who-decline-genetic-testing-could-face-penalities-under-proposed-bill/?utm_term=.e88482bb6aeb

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/03/10/bill-s201-supreme-court-advice_n_15283628.html

The Reality of Genetic Discrimination and Privacy

  

  Since the scientific revolution in the early 1500s, modern society have seen an enormous leap in scientific developments and breakthroughs.  One area in particular is the advancement in the ability to genetically test for heredity traits of diseases passed from one generation to the next. With genetic testing becoming more affordable, it is not a surprise that people may opt to do so.  However, as these breakthrough will contribute to our society, it will just as well put us in danger.  Genetic discrimination has been a long standing issue in society, which the (GINA) Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 is a federal law that aims to protect individuals from genetic discrimination in the health insurance and workplace.   

  As reported in NaturalNews , In 2012, 11-year old Coleman Chadman, was removed from his school and asked to transfer to another school due to having a genetic marker for cystic fibrosis.  Due to his congenital heart issue, his doctors decided to conduct extensive genetic tests after treatment.  These records, somehow where disclosed to the parents of two sisters attending the same school who had cystic fibrosis.  This is a genetic defect in the genes causing clogs in tubes, ducts and passage ways for mucous, fluids and sweat.  People who have this condition are able to pass disease and infection to one another.  This prompt the parents of the two sisters to demand the removal of Chadman to avoid disease and infection transmission to their daughters.

  How did these parents come across this private medical knowledge? Who gives them any right or authority to make such a request of Chadman's removal based on having a genetic marker of cystic fibrosis and not yet sick in any way.  The two siblings also attends the same school, would it not be possible for them to transmit disease and infection to each other?  Should one siblings be removed or both girls be removed because they are confirmed to have cystic fibrosis and may possibly pose threat to the health of other students currently attending the same school?  These are issues that the education system and innocent healthy children are facing today.  In Chadman's case, the fact that he was currently cystic fibrosis free and healthy didn't matter, the fact of having a genetic marker of the condition did.  

  This lawsuit is currently awaiting supreme courts appeal decision, however the outcome, it  may open a new legal landmark to the future of privacy, protection, and disclosure of genetic information.   Although genetics has been a impacting break through in science, it has also been an open opportunity to a wide a growing society of discrimination.