Protecting the Privacy of Genetic Information

Abstract

Advances in the study of human genetics and predictive genetic technologies, most notably the mapping of the human genome, have led to an increased understanding of how genetic code might relate to future health outcomes. These insights have raised concerns relating to the privacy of genetic information. The question becomes, what privacy protections does the law afford to individual persons and their genetic code, and how might the law protect individuals from discrimination when their privacy is violated?

Keywords: privacy, genetic, information, data, sensitive information, health

JEL Classification: C8, D8, I1, K10, K29, K31, M51