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	Presentations on Genetic Screening 3/19/03 Genetic Screening by Employers Karin  What’s in your genes? Consider this: I’m the CEO of a major company. Annual profits have been steady over the past 5 years, however the figures have not been in line with expected profits. It was suggested that employee absence due to occupational illness could have affected our profits significantly. We are currently considering instituting a genetic screening program which would target potential and current employees for sensitivity to certain toxic substances. Purpose of screening employees or potential employees? To minimize risks to safety To minimize costs Insurance Disability Decreased production Litigation Increase efficiency Benefit to public as a whole Factors to consider as Occupational Risks Chemical sensitivity Others Alcoholism Cardiomyopathy Melanoma Who screens employees? O.T.A polled Fortune 500 companies 17 out of 366- have screened in the last 12 yrs. 59 were interested Tar manufactures Burlington Northwest Santa Fe Railroad Co. Ethical Issues Should someone’s genotype determine job opportunities available to them? Should companies be allowed to use genetic information even though the relationship between genotype and risk might not be well established? Should cost effectiveness be the only basis for decision making? What kinds of limitations should there be? Concerns Potential loss of jobs Decreased safety standards Link to ethnicity Screening employees for non-work related diseases Stigmatization Exploitation Recommendations Many people are completely against screening in the workplace Consent Legislative or regulatory solutions Current protection 23 states prohibit genetic discrimination under the ADA Language limited Under ADA limited pre-employment screening is legal References: http://nova.bsuvc.bsu.edu/~d000tadl/ind_case.html http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v4n2/genes.html http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/upload/mm/369/ceja_report_035.pdf http://siop.org/tip/backissues/TipApr01/28Maranto.htm http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,42971,00.html http://www.racp.edu.au/afom/applics.htm    ..
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