Side Effects of Genetic Testing : Othor Games

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:34 pm

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/07/30/company-seeks-fda-approval-for-personal-dna-test/

Genetic test maker 23andMe is asking the Food and Drug Administration to approve its personalized DNA test in a move that, if successful, could boost acceptance of technology that is viewed skeptically by leading scientists who question its usefulness.

23andMe is part of a fledgling industry that allows consumers to peek into their genetic code for details about their ancestry and future health. The company's saliva-based kits have attracted scrutiny for claiming to help users detect whether they are likely to develop illnesses like briast cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's.

Just like anything having the ability to be abused, this does bring up the bad side of genetic testing. People will get concerned about health insurance companies using genetic testing to refuse to insure people because of predispositions to certain diseases.

What is your whole take on the genetic testing and having that information abused to refuse insurance to people?

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:59 am

I wouldn't like to see it be abused in that way, but I somewhat doubt it would come to that in developed countries, due to equal rights and laws and what have you. That said, I think that genetic anolysis is essential to our medical growth. Knowing what diseases you are prone to would allow people to take steps for prevention, and technology like this opens up so much more beyond prevention.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:42 am

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/07/30/company-seeks-fda-approval-for-personal-dna-test/

Just like anything having the ability to be abused, this does bring up the bad side of genetic testing. People will get concerned about health insurance companies using genetic testing to refuse to insure people because of predispositions to certain diseases.

What is your whole take on the genetic testing and having that information abused to refuse insurance to people?

Already happened to me. I can't be insured. Can't adopt, and a great deal of other things. All because there's a chance it might affect me later on.

Edit
So much for it not being abused, it doesn't exist I can already see it being abused.

Ediut
It's a free pass for someone to force testing on people, and then not insure them. Then probably some bizarre loophole to work at said company they need to pay into the insurance anyways.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 12:43 am

Just like anything having the ability to be abused, this does bring up the bad side of genetic testing. People will get concerned about health insurance companies using genetic testing to refuse to insure people because of predispositions to certain diseases.

What is your whole take on the genetic testing and having that information abused to refuse insurance to people?

They won't be able to when the new law goes into effect, in the US at least.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:47 pm

Health insurance companies can already deny coverage for Pre-Existing conditions, so Genetic Testing is not going to introduce this.

I think the more information someone has about their bodies, the better they are able to make good decisions about their life. In other words, prone to Heart Disease, then diet and exercise can be implemented earlier on to counteract it. Or, they can know to look for effects that they may otherwise ignore for an earlier diagnosis to a disease that can be cured if treated early.

The only issue I have with Genetic Testing is the accuracy of the test. Which speaks the accuracy of the sample.