Talk:Genetic Non-Discrimination

Excellent overview, Julia - unbiased and balanced. I'd like to add that there is a fifth group of interested individuals with a stake in how genetic information is stored and published - research scientists. When sufficiently large datasets of genetic information are available, several fields of Medicine will be revolutionized, including Epidemiology and Public Health.

You have addressed potential economic harm (e.g. loss of insurability or employment) that might result from public access to genetic information of individuals. There are other potential risks, including psychosocial harm (e.g. loss of social or professional reputation and possible disruption of physician-patient confidentiality, emotional distress, embarrassment and even stigma) that may result from such data becoming public.

As always, healthy discussion on the risks vs benefits in public forums is the ideal way to arrive at a progressive policy.