title: Genetic discrimination: the clinician perspective.
abstract: Clinicians attending continuing education sessions in California were surveyed about their beliefs and attitudes regarding genetic discrimination and their knowledge of protective legislation. Two hundred seventy-one surveys were collected from physicians (n = 191) and nurses (n = 80). Most respondents lacked information or were misinformed about the existence of protective legislation (58.3%) or published cases of insurance discrimination (85.2%); 52.4% believed that mutation carriers have difficulty obtaining health insurance; 13% would not encourage genetic testing, despite a family history of cancer. Clinician concerns about potential genetic discrimination, and lack of information regarding protective legislation, may influence access to care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Cancer Genetics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nedelcu
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Blazer
authors.forename: B U
authors.initials: BU
authors.lastname: Schwerin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gambol
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mantha
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Uman
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Weitzel
mesh_terms: D005817:Genetic Counseling; D030661:Genetic Privacy; D005820:Genetic Testing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007341:Insurance; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*