Board index › General Discussion › News and Current Events

Germany Limits Genetic Testing

Page 1 of 1 [ 3 posts ] 

Previous topic | Next topic

ikorack
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 15 Mar 2009
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,870

24 Apr 2009, 5:47 pm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090424/ap_ ... wAtMx0bBAF



Master_Shake
Toucan
Toucan

User avatar

Joined: 20 Feb 2009
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Posts: 262
Location: Michigan, United States

24 Apr 2009, 6:21 pm

Quote:
In addition it prohibits the use of genetic testing for indications of a predisposition to illnesses that appear only later in life, such as breast cancer or diseases of the nervous system.


This seems pretty stupid, if a person has a predisposition to to illness, they should be able to find out about it so they can take preventative measures. Though I could see such testing being used for unsavory purposes. For example, aborting a fetus because it will likely develop an illness later in life, or health insurance companies requiring testing and then jacking up the price of insurance for those who may fall ill.


_________________
I'm supposed to say something clever here.


blue_bean
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Gender: Female
Posts: 10,617
Location: Behind the wheel

24 Apr 2009, 8:12 pm

This is understandable IMO. After the eugenics schemes undertaken by the nazis in their own country back in the day, it's more than ok to be a little conservative about genetic testing.