Published: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 09:18:47 EST
The Wall Street Journal reports today that IBM became the first major American corporation to specifically forbid the use of genetic information in employment decisions.
Last week, the Chicago Bulls traded Eddy Curry to the New York Knicks after he refused to submit to a genetic test. Curry had suffered from a heart arrhythmia.
Genetic tests have the capability of showing a propensity for a particular disease, among other characteristics. However, it is an imprecise measure insofar as it does not predict whether a person will get a disease, particularly when one considers overarching personal and environmental factors. When news of the Curry story broke, CNBC noted that many CEOs who had beaten back illnesses like cancer would have been precluded from employment had genetic testing been in place.
Most states already forbid genetic employment discrimination, including California. See Government Code Section 12940(o). IBM’s new policy is a welcome development, as discrimination claims can be long, costly affairs for all parties involved.
Posted by Nikos Leverenz.
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