In the workplace, a person could be fired due to genetic disorders that would lead to increased costs incurred by the employer. Children could become outcasts in a school for having the possibility of developing a genetic disease. People could also be discriminated against while attempting to adopt a child. If the parents have the potential of developing a genetic disease or disorder, they may not be able to adopt a child just because they carry the potential disease gene. Genetic discrimination will become a very important topic as the HGP progresses.
Privacy is related to genetic discrimination in some aspects such as insurance and employment.
Unproven theories of genetic predisposition to violent behavior are currently being attempted in criminal cases. Accident victims may be required to undergo genetic testing to determine their life expectancy. This information would place a monetary value of their life expectancy before the accident. Genetic information may be abused by non-medical institutions that gain access through medical records and use it to define a person based on their genetics and any genetic disorders the person may have. Genetic information is different from other medical records for many reasons.