Genetic Exceptionalism

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In addition to protection against genetic discrimination, various laws exist at the federal and state levels pertaining to genetic information. Numerous state legislatures have engaged in protecting genetic information beyond levels that are typical for other types of health information. This practice is known as “genetic exceptionalism, which calls for special legal protections for genetic information due to its predictive, personal, and familial nature and other unique characteristics” (Genetic Privacy Laws, 2008). There is much debate surrounding the treatment of genetic information and whether such treatment should be equivalent to what is customary for other health information. Proponents of equal protection suggest that genetic information

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