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Genetic Discrimination: What Is The Key Purpose Of GINA?

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Genetic discrimination is judgement based on one’s genetic characteristics or chromosomes. In 2008, the “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act” (GINA) was passed, this act would prohibit discrimination based on genetics; moreover, GINA would prevent employers and health insurance providers from increasing health insurance rates based on one’s genetic disposition, which I will discuss further. In this paper, I will discuss the key purpose of GINA, summarize the five congressional findings that impelled the formation of GINA.
The purpose of GINA is to prevent genetic discrimination from insurance companies and employers. Genetic discrimination occurs when one judged based on their genetic characteristics or DNA. Mainly GINA was implemented to safeguard the public from discrimination and eliminate anxiety about discrimination to promote the use of genetic testing, research, and therapy.
Before GINA was passed, there were five discoveries made by congress, these discoveries would be the driving force for GINA to be passed. Initially, Congress found human genetic testing to be profitable to the public, new breakthroughs through genetic testing and research would prevent and cure some illnesses and diseases.
Sterilization laws were very prominent in early research, in 1905 Indiana passed laws …show more content…

In contrast GINA do not protect against factors such as gender, or race as these elements are covered under the Civil Rights Act. The text describes three elements covered under GINA which include “an individual’s genetic test results, information pertaining to the genetic test results of an individual’s family members, and information about the patient’s family history of genetic disease and disorder,” (Bustillos,

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