Imagine being discriminated because of something beyond your control. This type of discrimination is called genetic discrimination which is when one is discriminated and or treated differently by their employment or insurance company because of their genetic makeup (National Institutes of Health). The phobia of genetic discrimination is gripping many people around the world. People find themselves asking, “Could my genetic makeup raise my health bills? Could this cause me to be rejected from a career opportunity?” Because of genetic discrimination, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act was created. The purpose of this act is to protect Americans from being treated unfairly because of differences in their DNA that may affect their health. Although this law was created, genetic discrimination still happens today. Genetic discrimination may exist for potential reasons but it is still inequitable and wrong due to its negative effect on society and the great harm it can cause.
Various people are treated wrongly and unequal due to the information of the differences in their DNA. Inequality among humans is a dangerous aspect of society. For centuries it has been fueled by arrogance and hatred. Michael Kirby, a former Australian jurist, states that the “great dangers from adverse discrimination lie principally in the context of social arrangements which may be affected by knowledge about an individual’s genetic makeup.” Genetic discrimination does not only affect the individual; it affects their family and friends too because “employers can also use DNA information to decide whether to hire or fire workers” (National Human Genome Institute). If the employer decides to not hire the individual, he or she will not be able to provide...
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.... As of now, people are being discriminated through employment and insurance companies but it can lead to something bigger and worse.
Did you imagine being discriminated because of your genetic makeup? How did it make you feel? Did it make you feel bad about yourself? Imagine how the people who get discriminated feel. Genetic discrimination exists because employers choose to use one’s inherited information against an employee. An individual’s genetic information is beyond his or her control. There is nothing he or she can do about it and it is not right for them to be discriminated because of it. Genetic information should not lower chances at a job opportunity because it does not determine a person’s skill. Overall, genetic discrimination should be banned. There is no purpose of discriminating because of genetic information; the only outcomes come out negative.
Guidelines like these need to be formed into a federal law that people can pass in one way or another so that we can be protected from the various forms of discrimination that is possible with this kind of information. The public should be aware of what could happen if this kind of information could become public knowledge, and of the opportunities that the knowledge brings. There is no doubt that the information from genetic analysis is going to help a lot of people with all sorts of problems live longer and healthier lives. The only problem is that we have to keep the information in the hands of those who need it, and out of the hands of those who would use the information to profit or discriminate.
Firstly, GATTACA depicts our society where many individuals are discriminated against due to their genetic makeup. In the movie, Vincent was denied employment at GATTCA because he had a 99% chance of heart defect and most likely to die at the age of 30 and so he was considered “UNVAILD” for employment due to natural birth (Niccol, 1997). Likewise, several bills have been introduced in the Ontario Legislature such as the private members bill C-536 to modify the Canadian Labour Code to help eliminate genetic discrimination in workplaces (Heim-Myers, 2011). The need and the emergence to present the private Members’ bill to protect people illustrates the inequality in workplaces today in this society towards individuals based on their genetic makeup. In addition, Michio Kaku discusses in “Vision of the future” that in U.S, individuals have been struggling for 12 years to eliminate genetic discrimination and the division created between individuals due to alterations and genetic engineering. Individuals who are unable to afford these alterations and modifications will be at the bottom the social ladder and get discriminated upon while people with the genetic enhancement will be higher up the social hierarchy. (Kaku, 2007). Hence, through Vincent’s character GATTACA portrays our society in which individuals are genetically discriminated against due to their DNA.
Brooks, Jamie D., King, Meredith L., (2008). Geneticizing Disease. Implications for Racial Health Disparities. Center for American Progress. Progressive Ideas for a Strong, Just, and Free America. Retrieved from https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/downloads/2008_geneticizing_disease.pdf
Even though the negative side can’t be ignored it can definitely be escaped by working together and helping people feel aware and comfortable with it. When people start to realise that it is a great benefit to society, the economy and themselves discrimination can be eradicated and Genomics can grow.
Inequality and prejudice has been around for as long as the country has been founded. Beginning as a social construct, arbitrary differences, be it sexual orientation, age, and or handicapped status, have been pointed out and discriminated against. Many advocate for stricter guidelines to be placed on new laws that might seem offense and or discriminatory. This is referred to as Strict Scrutiny and it is deemed as a necessity by some in order to remain a progressive society. This means that before a law can be made it must undergo carefully inspection by the Supreme Court. (180-181) I believe that this argument does have merit and should be the standard for these types of laws, as well as in general.
Discrimination in employment has been an issue that has plagued our society throughout history. At the turn of this century it was acceptable to advertise job openings and specifically state that people of a certain race, color, religion, gender, or national origin "need not apply". A lot has changed over the last 100 years. The proverbial "pendulum" has swung in the direction of federal protection of certain people, but the problem now is that it has swung too far.
Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), which prohibits employment discrimination based on genetic information about an applicant, employee, or former employee. (“Federal Antidiscrimination laws,” 2016)
The genetic technology revolution has proved to be both a blessing and a blight. The Human Genome Project is aimed at mapping and sequencing the entire human genome. DNA chips are loaded with information about human genes. The chip reveals specific information about the individuals’ health and genetic makeup (Richmond & Germov 2009).The technology has been described as a milestone by many in that it facilitates research, screening, and treatment of genetic conditions. However, there have been fears that the technology permits a reduction in privacy when the information is disclosed. Many argue that genetic information can also be used unfairly to discriminate against or stigmatize individuals (Willis 2009).
Testing of one kind or another has always been very common in the job application process, whether it’s the testing of one’s skill sets through an application or drug testing. Now, through scientific advances of the Human Genome Project, a new type of testing has become available to employers: genetic testing. This new sort of testing would detect any genetic problems in a potential employee’s DNA, including genetic predisposition for disease and possible health concerns in the future. Genetic testing could be beneficial to companies monetarily, as it would be a way to screen their employees for long term, damaging factors which could be expensive for the company. The legal right to do so, however, is a controversial issue in the business world. Many people regard it as an invasion of privacy, an open invitation for bias in hiring pools, and a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (French). Genetic testing could be used in both the hiring process, and as an attempt for companies to cater to their employees’ needs. It could also, however, be used as a tool of discrimination against those with minor or major genetic abnormalities. Many ethical issues are raised: does a person have a right to anonymity in their DNA? Should employers discriminate against those with genetic problems, a factor out of the subject’s control? These disputes and more are what make genetic testing in the workplace a contentious topic today. Unless an act, such as the Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act, is passed, discrimination will run rampant through the job market, injuring the modern employee in the process. Despite the quantity of information about employees that could be retriev...
In today’s world, people are learning a great deal in the rapidly growing and developing fields of science and technology. Almost each day, an individual can see or hear about new discoveries and advances in these fields of study. One science that is rapidly progressing is genetic testing; a valuable science that promotes prevention efforts for genetically susceptible people and provides new strategies for disease management. Unnaturally, and morally wrong, genetic testing is a controversial science that manipulates human ethics. Although genetic testing has enormous advantages, the uncertainties of genetic testing will depreciate our quality of life, and thereby result in psychological burden, discrimination, and abortion.
...etic tests, I believe that both before and after genetic tests individuals should be required to meet with genetic counselors that help explain the test and interpret the results. Finally, although legislation preventing insurance and employment discrimination based on a person's genetic makeup already exists in many states, I think that additional laws need to be enacted that deny insurance companies and employers access to genetic information without a person's consent. As Matt Ridley (1999) states, a person's genome is his or her "own property," and people should be given complete freedom to decide to whom to disclose their genetic information (p. 269).
If a limit is not set between using genetic engineering for treatment and using genetic engineering for enhancement, then many parents could use it purely for eugenic purposes. This could cause ethical concerns but social concerns as well. If this was allowed to occur, it would also give the rich even more advantages than they already have to begin with and drive the social classes even farther apart. The use of genetic engineering may also lead to genetic discrimination. As in the movie Gattaca, a person could easily get a print-out of his or her genotype, this information could then be used by schools, employers, companies, and others; giving rise to a new form of discrimination based on a person’s genetic profile. As the world is already full of discrimination, genetic engineering would even increase the numbers of discrimination against people.
First of all, I want to start by saying that I 'm not discriminating the disabled community, but this is a very large number that could possibly be diminished with the help of genetic testing. (1) I believe that there is nothing wrong with testing the genes of an unborn child to possibly determine if it could develop a genetic disorder in the future. One of the advantages that genetic testing provides is that the parents could now be informed of the situation, and keep track of their unborn child 's health. I 'm sure those parents are pleased with this technology, and the chances to be able to keep track of their baby. This a baby, and is something very precious, and valuable, and I believe that parents want to keep track of anything that may happen with the unborn child. I 'm sure that a large amount of people would agree would agree that they don 't want to suddenly take the hard hit. When the news is presented in the delivery room. This serves more as an advantage than a disadvantage, due to the fact parents. Pull be more prepared, or possibly have the option to abort it. This is a right that the parents should have regardless of the opposing side arguments towards it. Im a hundred percent sure that the opposing side has very strong arguments towards genetics testing, and one of the main ones is "playing God." The opposing side believed that some things in
Genetic discrimination has been illegal since November 21, 2009 when the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, or GINA, took effect. During the ratification process, Congress almost whole heartedly accepted it since “the House of Representatives supported it 414-1, and the Senate backed it unanimously” during the voting of the bill (Cohen). The specific par...
Unfortunately due to our past history, discrimination had been among us from since decades. Discrimination and prejudice would probably be among us until the end of the world. Prejudice and discrimination is an action that treats people unfairly because of their membership in a particular social group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs to rather on that individual. It is an unfair treatment to a person, racial group, and minority. It is an action based on prejudice.