Gattaca has arrived: Woman Fired for Carrying Breast Cancer Gene
As recently as 1997, being judged solely on our DNA was a concept reserved for futuristic SciFi movies like Gattaca. Be warned: the future is now! Despite 2008 legislation prohibiting genetic discrimination, some people apparently think it’s okay to fire an exemplary employee simply because she carries the gene for breast cancer. Now, I’m a realist, and it may turn out that there were other, nondiscriminatory reasons for this firing…but I doubt it. This employee’s only bad choice was confiding in her employer about the genetic test results. Soon, genetic tests will be available at pharmacies over the counter. If you’re really concerned, buy one of those (and pay cash, if you really want to be off the grid). Then, if you find something concerning, you might opt to open Pandora’s box and use your health insurance to consult a qualified physician. Sure, it’s illegal for employers to fire you because of your genetic test results, but as the old adage goes (kind of), a $30 genetic test kit is worth $100,000 in attorney’s fees.