New federal law prohibits genetic discrimination

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act goes into effect this week, a law that forbids employers and health insurance companies from making employment, coverage, and rate decisions based on a person's genetic makeup. One official with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said that this law "reaffirms the idea that people have a right to be judged solely on merit," and not because of concerns they may develop a health condition in the future based on their genetic makeup. Experts say this is the most sweeping federal workplace anti-discrimination law to take effect since the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990.