Bush signs GINA

On Wednesday President Bush signed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 into law. The president's critics and detractors are numerous and varied, but here is something where we can stand together on the same side and approve of this landmark legislation.

*UPDATE*

From NHF:

On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, President Bush signed historic legislation protecting Americans from discrimination based on the results of genetic testing. The bill was recently passed by Congress with strong bipartisan support after a 14-year struggle and dedicated efforts by a coalition of healthcare and other advocacy organizations, including the National Hemophilia Foundation.

"This is a tremendous victory for the hundreds of thousands of Americans affected by genetic disorders," said Val Bias, CEO, National Hemophilia Foundation. "It was a long and hard effort to achieve this day".

The new law prevents employers and insurance companies from either requiring genetic test results or from using genetic information as the basis for decisions around employment or insurance coverage. In the bleeding disorders community, the law has particular significance for women who are considering genetic testing to determine whether they are carriers. In the past, some individuals have avoided such tests out of fear of possible discrimination. The law does not affect those who have been diagnosed with specific conditions.