25 Oct Infant DNA Scan Raises Concerns on Privacy and Discrimination
A number of parents in Boston have recently been offered a free DNA scan for their newborns which genetic counselors say will help provide information on the child’s future health. However, some parents have voiced their apprehensions regarding the program, stating that it could cause their child to be discriminated against should a breach reveal the child’s possible health problems.
The BabySeq project, which is currently being conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, screens for around 1,800 conditions using genomic sequencing. Dr. Robert Green, Harvard medical geneticist and co-director of the project says that while they cannot be certain of the privacy implications the gathered data might have for the child, he is certain that the scan could potentially save the child’s life in the future.
Source: CBS News
