Genetic discrimination: the clinician perspective.
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.
Nedelcu
R
R
Department of Clinical Cancer Genetics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA.
Blazer
K R
KR
Schwerin
B U
BU
Gambol
P
P
Mantha
P
P
Uman
G C
GC
Weitzel
J N
JN
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*