The GINA is almost law. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) has cleared congress after 13 years of debate. In one of the only positive moves to come out of this Administration/ Near Hollywood style parody of unfathomable incompetence, President George (too stupid for Words) Bush is expected to sign it into law. Why is this a good thing? Because knowledge is power and power is to often abused. A few years ago I sat with my wife at a conference on Crohn’s & Colitis, one of the speakers was urging suffers to participate in genetic testing. I urged her to wait. While I know I was doing a disservice to other with this disease, there is a very real danger with allowing the wrong people to get a hold of the code, that in-part, makes us who we are. I am strong believer in the progress of science, but the fear that she or our children*could be discriminated against based on this Mitzvah** could – well, as they say, no good deed goes unpunished. GINA, once it becomes law will help allay those concerns. GINA has the opportunity to help shape the future of humanity, create a world were we can reap the rewards medical progress without the fear of personal reprisal for the gift of sharing our fundamental nature. This may yet prove to be the one positive legacy that Bush leaves to humanity.
*currently one – at the time none
** I do believe that understanding our nature through science is a Mitzvah
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