Ethical issues discrimination

A much needed book on legal and ethical dilemmas in occupational health is now available (ref. 18). The chapter by Whorton, "Considerations About Reproductive Hazards", is of special interest. The book consists of 38 chapters grouped into five sections occupational safety and health act issues, workers rights and responsibilities, workers compensation, job discrimination, and ethics. 

Undeniably, genomics and pharmacogenomics opens up a whole host of legal, ethical, and societal issues that will have implications in patient confidentiality, discrimination, malpractice, and informed consent (135-137). However, as clinicians, scientists, and health care practitioners, we must always remember the unquestionable power of an individual s right to choose, and prospectively fight to ensure patients rights and prevent genomic discrimination. 

The problems of genetic testing are psychological or technical in nature. Issues related to insurance, employment discrimination and privacy have received much attention. Additional ethical concerns arise when no effective intervention is available and when prenatal testing is considered for diseases with late-onset or minimal effects. 

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