Groundbreaking genetic non-discrimination bill signed into law

On May 21, 2008, the path to personalized medicine became a little smoother as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 — or GINA — was signed into law. This law prohibits employers and health insurers from discriminating against individuals based on their genetic information. Physicians must be aware of GINA’s protections so that they can discuss them with their patients when advising them of the benefits and risks associated with genetic screening, counseling, testing and therapies.

Although GINA passed with wide bipartisan support, genetic nondiscrimination legislation was debated in Congress for more than 13 years. When Representative Slaughter introduced the first version of the bill in 1995, many thought that the need for genetic nondiscrimination legislation was premature. She and other key players, such as Senator Ted Kennedy, patient advocacy organizations, civil rights organizations, and physician organizations such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology, spent over a decade working to pass this law.

Read more