WORKERS in Britain should only have to take genetic tests if a particular
gene could put them or the public at risk, according to a report for the
government.
British employers do not usually require employees to reveal genetic
information, but pressure may grow as more genes are discovered and tests
improve, says Onora O鈥橬eill, chair of the Human Genetics Advisory
Commission.
In its report released last week, the commission did not recommend an
outright ban on genetic tests for employment, and suggested that tests could be
useful under two sets of circumstances.
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A test should be allowed where the safety of the public is at stake, it says.
For example, if a test could identify people with a high risk of sudden heart
attacks, it might be reasonable to require pilots to demonstrate that they do
not have the gene.
It might also be reasonable to require testing if genetic variation could
make some people vulnerable to certain conditions in the workplace, such as
chemicals, the commission argues. But 鈥渢he workplace should be adapted to the
employee, not the employee to the workplace,鈥� O鈥橬eill warns.