Aggregated News
"I decided to get genetic testing on the outside without telling my doctor," a woman recently told me She was at risk for a serious disease caused by a rare but lethal mutation. "That way, I can find out the result, and if I have the mutation, buy lots of life insurance."
"But what if the company finds out what you did?" I asked.
"How would they? If they ask, 'Have you ever had genetic testing?' I'll just say 'no' "
I understood her concern. Discrimination is possible.
But she would also hide the genetic test results from her doctor, since if he knew them he would ordinarily put them in her medical record.
Some other patients who have done testing on their own and learned they have lethal mutations have told their physicians, "Here is information. But I don't want you to put it in my chart" -- placing these doctors in a difficult spot.
Medical records are supposed to contain all relevant information to help providers in the future decide how best to diagnose and treat...