Genetic Testing

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at the definition of genetic testing and discusses some of the legal and ethical issues surrounding it. The paper specifically focuses on insurance companies and how they will sometimes deny insurance to someone based on genetic testing of that person. The paper explains the negative effects of such a practice and contends that genetic testing is useful tool in our hands. It should be used to benefit society and to make a better place for those who might have faulty genes that may cause some sort of disorder or disease.

From the Paper:

"According to Lieh-Mak and Wong, Genetic Discrimination is discrimination against an individual or his/her relatives that have difference in their genome, which may or may not cause diseases. The problem of genetic discrimination is present not only in America but throughout the world. There is inequity present on the basis of genetic testing in every aspect of life. It doesn't matter if it is as little as discrimination done by an individual to other individual who has had some sort of genetic tests done or a person is refused a job just because of his defective genes. Morrison says, "Penalizing everyone with faulty gene would result in no one left to insure, so a sensible approach is necessary." There should not be any sort of discrimination regarding genetic testing as it might help to avoid any inherited disease. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Benko, Laura B. "Testing the limits of care; Concern about"genetic discrimination" from employers and insurers trying to keep costs down casts down casts a pall on genetic testing." Modern Healthcare 36 Feb. 13, 2006 6. Crain Communications, Inc. InfoTrac. Virginia Commonwealth University Lib., Richmond. Feb. 21, 2006 <http://infotrac.galegroup.com>.
• Keller, Evelyn F. The Social Power of Genetic Informaiton. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1992.
• Morrison, Patrick J. "Insurance, unfair discrimination, and genetic testing." The Lancet 366 Sept. 10, 2005 877+. InfoTrac. Virginia Commonwealth University Lib., Richmond. Feb. 21, 2006 <http://infotrac.galegroup.com>.
• Nelkin, Dorothy. The Social Power of Genetic Informaiton. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1992.
• Watson, Michael S. and Holtzman, Neil A. Promoting Safe and Effective Genetic Testing in the United States. Maryland: The Johns Hopkins Press Ltd., London, 1998.

More papers on Genetic Testing:

• Analytical Essay # 141603 : "Genetic Testing"
• Argumentative Essay # 141735 : "The Problems with Genetic Testing"
• Term Paper # 91683 : "Genetic Testing of Workers"
• Term Paper # 45216 : "Genetic Testing: Is It Really Cutting Edge?"

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