White House calls for ban on genetic testing at work
The White House is proposing legislation that would ban genetic testing in the workplace, calling it a threat to privacy and a potential avenue to unfair discrimination.
Vice President Al Gore announced the proposed legislation recently, saying that "the fear of genetic discrimination is prompting Americans to avoid genetic tests that could literally save their lives. But genetic progress should not become a new excuse for discrimination."
The legislation would prohibit employers from requesting or requiring genetic information when hiring employees and ensure that genetic information is not disclosed without the explicit permission of the individual. The White House does endorse the use of genetic information to ensure workplace safet, and for research when the employee has provided consent. But even then, Gore says the genetic information should be kept separate from personnel files and treated as confidential medical information.
Gore cited a study by Northwestern National Life Insurance in which 15% of employers surveyed said that they planned to check the genetic status of prospective employees by the year 2000. He also referred to instances in which people have refused to participate in studies involving genetic information because they feared the information would be used against them in the workplace and with insurers.
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