Bush signs Genetic Anti-discrimination Bill

21 May 2008

Genetic discrimination by employers or medical insurers is now illegal.

President Bush has signed legislation to protect people from losing their jobs or health insurance when genetic testing reveals they are susceptible to costly diseases. The anti-discrimination measure aims to ensure that advances in DNA testing won't end up being used against people.

Bush praised the bill for protecting "our citizens from having genetic information misused."

Sponsors of the legislation call it a groundbreaking protection of civil rights. About a dozen of them gathered in the Oval Office as Bush signed the bill.