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Joan Stephenson, PhD

JAMA. 1999;282:2197-2198.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

San Francisco—The discovery of gene mutations linked to cancer or other serious illnesses has paved the way to genetic testing to determine if an individual, typically someone from a high-risk family, carries a flawed gene.

A positive genetic test may help patients by alerting them to the need for screening or preventive measures. But many people who are good candidates may be reluctant to undergo testing because they fear that insurers and employers will use genetic information to discriminate against them.

Despite such fears, however, genetic discrimination by health insurers has not been a problem, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics. Like so-called urban legends that are built on rumor rather than fact, the perception of insurance company bias against patients who undergo predictive genetic testing seems to be largely unsubstantiated.

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