title: Confidentiality & the Risk of Genetic Discrimination: What Surgeons Need to Know.
abstract: In the past decade, laws have been passed to provide legal protections against genetic discrimination. Many members of the public and medical providers are unaware of the legislation, and concerns about genetic privacy can prevent delivery of optimal medical care. Patient health information, including genetic testing and family history, is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. Additional protections are granted through the Americans with Disabilities Act, state laws, and the Affordable Care Act. Communicating a genetic test result back to a patient is important for medical management decisions and family members.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, High Risk Cancer Research, Huntsman Cancer Institute at University of Utah, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gammon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, High Risk Cancer Research, Huntsman Cancer Institute at University of Utah, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. Electronic address: deb.neklason@hci.utah.edu.
authors.forename: Deborah W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Neklason
mesh_terms: D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D063508:Social Discrimination; D066231:Surgeons
keywords: Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act; Genetic discrimination; Genetic testing; Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; Hereditary cancer; Legal; Privacy