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Individual, family, and societal dimensions of genetic discrimination: A case study analysis

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Abstract

Background. As the development and use of genetic tests have increased, so have concerns regarding the uses of genetic information. Genetic discrimination, the differential treatment of individuals based on real or perceived differences in their genomes, is a recently described form of discrimination. The range and significance of experiences associated with this form of discrimination are not yet well known and are investigated in this study.

Methods. Individuals at-risk to develop a genetic condition and parents of children with specific genetic conditions were surveyed by questionnaire for reports of genetic discrimination. A total of 27,790 questionnaires were sent out by mail. Of 917 responses received, 206 were followed up with telephone interviews. The responses were analyzed regarding circumstances of the alleged discrimination, the institutions involved, issues relating to the redress of grievances, and strategies to avoid discrimination.

Results. A number of institutions were reported to have engaged in genetic discrimination including health and life insurance companies, health care providers, blood banks, adoption agencies, the military, and schools. The alleged instances of discrimination were against individuals who were asymptomatic and sometimes impacted on other asymptomatic relatives. Few surveyed respondents knew of the existence of institutions such as state insurance commissions or the Medical Information Bureau, Inc., which may play roles in redress of grievances or correction of misinformation.

Conclusions. Genetic discrimination is variable in form and cause and can have marked consequences for individuals experiencing discrimination and their relatives. The presence of abnormal genes in all individuals makes each person a potential victim of this type of discrimination. The increasing development and utilization of genetic tests will likely result in increased genetic discrimination in the absence of contravening measures.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology and Division of Medical Ethics, Harvard Medical School, USA

    Lisa N. Geller Ph.D.

  2. Department of Chemistry and the Center for Genetics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts-Boston, USA

    Joseph S. Alper Ph.D.

  3. Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA

    Paul R. Billings M.D., Ph.D.

  4. Jamaica Plain, MA

    Carol I. Barash Ph.D.

  5. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, USA

    Jonathan Beckwith Ph.D.

  6. Division of Medical Genetics, Shriver Center and Massachusetts General Hospital, USA

    Marvin R. Natowicz M.D., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Lisa N. Geller Ph.D.
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  2. Joseph S. Alper Ph.D.
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  3. Paul R. Billings M.D., Ph.D.
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  4. Carol I. Barash Ph.D.
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  5. Jonathan Beckwith Ph.D.
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  6. Marvin R. Natowicz M.D., Ph.D.
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Additional information

All authors contributed equally to this work.

This work was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and funding from the Department of Mental Retardation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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Geller, L.N., Alper, J.S., Billings, P.R. et al. Individual, family, and societal dimensions of genetic discrimination: A case study analysis. Sci Eng Ethics 2, 71–88 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02639319

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02639319

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