Controversy over gene testing...

The discussion over this potentially double edged sword continues as genetic testing becomes more precise. Here's one example from the CNN article:

Heidi Williams is an advocate against what she calls genetic discrimination. She said her insurance company refused to cover her children because of genetic test results.

Williams has a chronic liver deficiency called Alpha-1 that causes her body to kill the air sacs in her lungs.

Tests on her children found that they were unlikely to develop the disease but had a greater chance of passing it on to their children.

She said Humana twice denied the health insurance applications before finally extending coverage to her children.

Humana spokesman Tom Noland said that "it was a misunderstanding, not discrimination. It was a paperwork error that was later discovered and corrected."

There is also the concern that no matter what the genetic test results show, it is impossible to know for certain if genetic testing shows someone has a predisposition for a disease if they will truly end up with that disease or condition. There is the fear from many that this will create a situation where people will be discriminated against, whether this is without merit or not, the fact remains that it is a concern.