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Editorial: Genetic tests offer potential for abuse

Tuesday, June 26, 2001 | 9:07 a.m.

It is comforting that President Bush said Saturday he would ask Congress to pass legislation banning genetic discrimination by employers or insurance companies. Genetic testing offers considerable promise for amazing medical breakthroughs, but the potential for abuse is significant.

It's simply not right to prevent someone from getting a job or receiving insurance based on genetic tests. Besides, these tests aren't infallible and often only provide the odds of acquiring a disease -- they don't always offer certainty. Congress and the president should work together to pass tough legislation that forecloses the possibility of using genetic tests in ways that clearly are discriminatory.

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