President to bar genetic discrimination

February 8, 2000
Web posted at: 7:50 a.m. EST (1250 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Clinton is expected to sign an executive order on Tuesday prohibiting the federal government from using genetic test results in any decision to hire, fire or promote its employees. The order, to take effect immediately, is a response to fears that advances in medical research could be abused by employers.

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Politics of health care

It covers nearly 2 million civilian federal employees, but does not apply to the private sector.

The president is due to announce his decision during a speech at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Private sector, too?

Clinton's order echoes a bill pending in Congress sponsored by Sens. Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, and Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts.

The measure would prohibit private sector employers from refusing to hire people at risk for health problems and insurers from refusing to sell them coverage.

In addition to the order, Clinton was expected to voice his support for the Daschle-Kennedy legislation, which would extend assurances against abuse of genetic information to the general public -- a step that would require congressional action.

A federal measure enacted in 1996 -- the Kennedy-Kassebaum Law -- already outlaws genetic discrimination in group health insurance plans.

Clinton wary of abuses

Advances in genetic testing soon will allow doctors to predict the medical futures of their patients. That has raised concerns that such information could be used against those who are likely to suffer from cancer, diabetes, heart disease or other ailments.

Clinton has followed the Human Genome Project, which will map all of the genes in the human body. For years he has been speaking out on the potential abuse of genetic information.

In his 1998 State of the Union speech, Clinton declared that "we must see that science serves humanity, not the other way around."

"We must prevent the misuse of genetic tests to discriminate against any American," he said.

The order Clinton was signing would restrict federal agencies' abilities to collect or use genetic information, including family medical histories.

Exceptions to such data collection would be allowed in cases in which workers give written consent as part of a health care program monitoring their medical conditions.

Another exception would be granted for gathering information to study workplace safety.

White House Correspondent Chris Black and The Associated Press contributed to this report.