Every man, woman and child in America is a potential victim of discrimination. Genetic tests do not show with certainty that an individual will eventually develop the disease or how severe the symptoms might be. Therefore, employers must not be allowed to discriminate based on a genetic predisposition to a health condition. The threat of genetic discrimination leads individuals to decline genetic screenings and other health services out of fear of revealing information that may be used against them. For example, the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that only 57 percent of women at risk for breast cancer seek genetic testing, and 84 percent of those who decline the test do so because they fear genetic discrimination.
Genetic tests can provide people valuable information that can prevent the onset of illness.