A Question of Genetic Discrimination
Genetic Screening: Who Has the Right to See Your Genome?
ETHICAL ISSUE
Betty is interviewed for a position at a small company. This company employs a small staff of 10
people. It is successful because the company is very careful about how much money it spends.
If Betty is hired, by law, the boss must pay half of her monthly health insurance premiums. This
insurance covers any medical costs for her and her family. After a very long and successful interview,
the boss says, “Betty, I have interviewed others who have very good qualifications but you have the best
qualifications for the job so far! I should hire you. I have one final question though. Are you or your
family susceptible to any genetic diseases?”
Employee


Somewhat
qualified
Very qualified
(BETTY)
Susceptibility
to a Genetic
Disorder
 Low risk
Financial Consequence
to Employer’s Insurance
Premiums
 Price remains low



High risk
Price greatly increases

Employer’s (BOSS)
Decision & Reason
Hires because he/she can
afford you
Does not hire because it
makes it difficult for
company to remain
financially successful.
Possible Scenarios for a High Risk Employee – (BETTY, A Very Unfortunate Woman)
Betty is very unfortunate. Betty has Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy and breast cancer in her family.
She decides to have a blood test for herself and an amniocentesis for her unborn child. She finds out
that her future baby has the karyotype for Muscular Dystrophy and she (BETTY) is also highly
susceptible for getting breast cancer within 5-10 years. Betty and her baby may require expensive
treatment and medication over the next 5-10 years. This will all be covered (paid for) by the company’s
group insurance. However, this means the premiums will significantly increase each year and the boss
will have to pay a significant amount of money as well.
Rubric
1. Argument Clearly Stated for Each Person – 2 Marks
2. Three Supportive Reasons for each argument – 6 Marks
3. Quality of Writing (simple answers will not earn you marks) – 2 Mark
TOTAL = 10 MARKS
ASSIGNMENT – Read the question below. Write and justify your opinion as if you are each person.
Question
Even though Betty has the best qualifications, she has a high genetic risk for costing the boss
and other employees a lot of money. If the boss decides not to hire her for this reason, is it considered
discrimination or is it simply a good business decision? Remember, the boss must think about all of the
company’s employees’ welfare. The company must continue to be financially successful.
Argument from Boss’s Perspective
(Write as if you are the boss
and speaking to Betty)
Argument for Betty
(Write as if you are Betty
and speaking to the Boss)