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Next Thing You Know They'll Be Wrapping the Tests in Brown Paper

Feb 26, 2008

Here's an article from the New York Times based on the premise that people are avoiding genetic testing because of fears of discrimination. "The first, much-anticipated benefits of personalized medicine are being lost or diluted for many Americans who are too afraid that genetic information may be used against them to take advantage of its growing availability," the story says.

It adds that some people choose to go "underground" -- that is, take and pay for genetic tests themselves so as to keep the results out of their official health records. "Even doctors who recommend DNA testing to their patients warn them that they could face genetic discrimination from employers or insurers," according to the article.

 

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