According to an article by Ozlem Susler, in the March 27, 2009 edition of ScienceAlert, genetic discrimination is already a fact in Australia. Unlike the United States, where the “Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act” was enacted in 2008, Australia currently has no such protections. They are looking at it however. Check out Susler’s column. It’s interesting… Following is a teaser.
The brave new world of genetic screening to identify any genetic predisposition to particular diseases has opened a Pandora’s box in the
realms of equality, human rights and social justice to name a few. Geller et al have defined genetic discrimination as the differential treatment of individuals or their relatives on the grounds of actual or presumed hereditary differences.
It must be conceded that the advantage of genetic screening at birth or an early age, enables carefully planned medical management aimed to postpone the onset, effectively treat, and possibly cure genetically based conditions. The other side of the coin is not as encouraging, such genetic information may be used by organisations such as life insurance companies to restrict or deny insurance on the grounds of family history of disease or the results of genetic screening, which is argued to amount to genetic discrimination.
