There are many ethical issues that are raised as a direct result of our knowledge, understanding and usage of genome technology. First and foremost for me is what will be done with this information? Who has a right to have it? Should potential employers be given this information? Should insurance carriers be given this information? Will this technology absolve some and indict others of their responsibilities to society, family, government? Since this society, based on historical documentation, can't/won't free itself from the deleterious clutches of the "isms" (racism, sexism, ageism, genderism), would such information merely serve as another discriminating mechanism to ostracize individuals from mainstream society?
Treatment and Medicine
Genaissance Pharmaceticals, Inc. located in New Haven announced they have detected an "astonishing" variance at the genetic level in 82 unrelated people from four racial backgrounds- white, black, Asian, Hispanic. Their study of 313 genes, out of 30,000 identified by human genome scientists found that for each gene, there were on average 14 versions that could be inherited by a given person from parents. Gearld Vovis, Genaissance chief technology officer and senior vice president felt this might explain why there is such a wide variance in how people respond to medication. Vovis foresees a day when doctors will take a sample of blood, do a total genetic examination, and have that guide in prescribing treatment. The downside is that some unscrupulous individual having access to that information could misuse or exploit that individual (10). Another upside to this technology is that side effects produced by the ingestion of medication could be minimized or eradicated altogether.
Insurance Companies
If life insurance companies had this information, how might that impact society? Anyone who has ever sought life insurance is familiar with the little indicators that can prohibit your ability to become insured, or cause you to pay abhorrently elevated fees.
Smoking, obesity, cancer, AIDS, and a host of other malaise can increases your rates. The only up side to the current system is, if you have something you don't know about, it cannot be used against you. Now imagine if insurance companies had access to your genetic composition? You could potentially be penalized now for what may be coming twenty years (or never) down the road.
Employment
What if potential employers had this information? When you currently apply for a job, your "employability" is based on skill, experience, references, education and sometimes who-you-know. With access to your genetic code, any predisposition to alcoholism, cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, coronary heart disease, Huntington's disease, could become grounds for not being hired. Would it be ethical for the employer to deny you the opportunity to make money today, based on something that might not take place in the next five to ten years? From the potential employer's perspective, the answer would probably be a resounding yes. That will not set well with a potential employee who will need to be self-supporting.
Taxpayers
What will the potential cost be to the taxpayers? If more people are denied work based on their predisposition to a given debilitating illness, would that add to the social-security disability roster? What will this information do for HMO's? Will their cost become even more prohibiting for more individuals and families? How will our social service agencies withstand the potential rise in homelessness and/or addictions?
