Lifelong Health Benefits of Mandatory Genetic Screenings

Since their development and introduction to the field of medicine more than a century ago, genetic screenings have become incorporated in many fields of healthcare, including reproductive health and cancer prevention. Genetic screening is a method of identifying genetic disorders through the study of an individual’s DNA. They can be used to determine predisposition for various disorders such as Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, and sickle cell anemia. Genetic screenings inform individuals about their state of health and can help them make efficient choices in regard to disease treatments and prevention; however they have not gone without controversy. Many feel that such screenings can cause stigma and discrimination against individuals who have†¦show more content†¦Despite their benefits for individual and public health, genetic screenings can lead to social stigma against those with genetic disorders. Since the introduction of mass genetic tests, there has been a le gal debate about whether or not to release information about an individual’s screening results. On one side of the debate are those who argue that the data from genetic screenings can be used to benefit public health through the development and improvement of treatments and public health policy (Hodge, 2004). However, a prominent opposing side to this debate has focused on the potential for social and even ethnic quarantine if the results of screenings are made public (Atkin, 2003). Though there is a consensus that genetic screening is beneficial in preventing and treating diseases and poor health, many worry that releasing their results can lead to social stigma for individuals of certain minorities simply because of their greater susceptibility to certain health problems (Natowicz and Alper, 1991). 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