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Today, with available modern technology, scientists can trace the entire genetic makeup of a person. From here we can see the risk that a person may have for the health conditions in their lives.
This could offer key advantages for medicine - the previous warning doctors must treat a medical problem better they can prevent or treat the disease
But there could be dark sides at. technology, as well. What if the employer has obtained a hold of your genetic makeup and decided not to hire you based until they have seen? Or if an insurance company denied you coverage because they knew that you are at risk of developing a certain disease.
This is not a new concern for legislators in Washington DC In 1995, US Representative Louise Slaughter bill - called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination the Act (GINA) - prohibiting discrimination genetics
under the bill, insurance companies would not be allowed to deny coverage or increase premiums based on genetic information of a person ..
GINA also makes it illegal for employers to use genetic information to hire, fire, promote, or assign tasks to workers.
for over a decade, the bill had broad support. The only problem was that he could not pass both the House and Senate during the same session, reported The New York Times .
For example, the bill passed the Senate unanimously in both 03 and 05, but was blocked in the House two years.
This year the bill is finally went to the floor of the house and was approved by a vote of 420 to 3. GINA but was held from the floor of the Senate by Senator Tom Coburn, who expressed concern the bill could encourage lawsuits against employers.
Some employers, Senator Coburn pointed out, could be prosecuted twice if GINA took effect.
In negotiations with other legislators, agreement on a provision was made to provide protection for employers. Now the bill can pass the Senate for approval.
"We withstood all the criticism we have had a lot of people, and now we fixed it," said Senator Coburn.
A majority of States have already their own laws against genetic discrimination, but their laws vary. What GINA priority is not certain, wrote the Times article.
the bill will most likely be easily passed by the Senate, and is actively promoted by Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle. President Bush also showed support.
"[GINA is] the first act of the civil rights of the 21st century," said Senator Olympia Snowe J ..
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