Up until now, genetic tests were only available for relatively rare single-gene disorders. In the last year, however, scientists discovered genes associated with two forms of cancer, a disease that strikes millions of Americans every year. Individuals who carry these genes are at increased risk for developing certain forms of colon and breast cancer. While this may save lives through early diagnosis and intervention, it may also lead to stigmatization and discrimination. While the new diagnostics will provide identification of genetic factors that may be responsible for evoking certain diseases or disabilities, it is not at all obvious how rapidly and to what extent this information will lead to treatments or cures for the diseases in question.
Diagnoses unaccompanied by cures are of questionable value.
This is especially true when the diagnosis can be made long before the person in question begins to notice any symptoms of disability or disease, as is often the case. Meanwhile the exaggerated emphasis on genetic diagnoses is not without its dangers because it draws attention away from the social measures that are needed in order to ameliorate most diseases, including equitable access to health care. The tragedies of race and sex discrimination illustrate the dangers of basing employment decisions on inborn characteristics. Like these, discrimination on the basis of genetics ignores the present abilities and health status of workers and substitutes questionable stereotypes about future performance. Basing employment decisions on genetic status opens the door to unfounded generalizations about employee performance and increases acceptance of the notion that employers need to exercise such discrimination in order to lower labor costs.