Genetic Testing
If you had the decision to predict your future, would you take it? Or would you let things pan out as your life goes along? Since the discovery of the DNA molecule in 1952, doctors are striving to predict your future. Now, doctors are able to do this by genetic testing which allows you to see if you have a gene alteration in your DNA sequence. Many people assume of course they would take it because it will predict if they are at risk of getting a disease or not. However, if I had a choice to get genetic tested I would not take the opportunity for multiple reasons.
In the first place, genetic testing invades our privacy. Yes, I have given them my DNA for testing but do they really keep my genetic information a secret? Although where they store everyone’s genetic information is secure, the data may be used for commercial interests. I believe I should be the only one allowed access to the information and if the doctors want to use my DNA for other testing, they have to get verification from me every time. It’s already bad that people have access to our personal information without us knowing, but no one should be able to have access to
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Insurance companies want to see the results of your test to group people based on whether they are at risk of developing a disease or not. People may have to pay a high amount of money just because they are at a higher risk of getting a disease. We have no control over our DNA sequence so why should we have to pay a lot of money or be denied coverage completely? We may also be discriminated at work and for jobs. Some businesses have health hazards and are only able to hire people who are not at risk. According to Claire Andre and Manuel Velasquez from Santa Clara University, some companies include genetic testing in their pre-employment evaluation. Clearly, the use of genetic testing will result in discrimination involving insurance companies and