GINA and Preemployment Criminal Background Checks

Abstract

The article discusses the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and the ethical and public policy issues related to workplace genetic profiling and institutional security. GINA precludes employers from requesting DNA from potential employees. It provides employees protection from discrimination as well as access to and disclosure of personal genetic information. The author proposes turning background criminal checks over to law enforcement agencies which allow them to collect the DNA from prospective employee.