Genetic Testing Coming To a Drugstore Near You

Hugh Pickens writes "The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Walgreens is slated to begin selling genetic-testing kits priced from $20 to $30 apiece that can tell people whether they're likely to get breast cancer, Alzheimer's disease, become obese, or suffer from a range of other maladies. However, to get the results of various tests, shoppers will have to fork over an additional $79 for drug-response results, $179 for 'pre-pregnancy planning' results, $179 for health condition results, or $249 for a combination of the three. Pathway Genomics and other companies already offer such tests online, but Walgreens will be the first brick-and-mortar retailer to sell them. FDA spokeswoman Karen Riley says Pathway overstepped its bounds when it announced its plans to market the tests directly to the consumer at 6,000 of Walgreen's 7,500 stores and wants Pathway Genomics to submit data showing that its tests give accurate results. 'The claims have limitations based on existing science,' says Riley, 'and consumers should not be making important medical and lifestyle decisions based on these tests without first consulting a health-care professional.' Walgreen responded that FDA clearance is not required to sell the kit in its stores; and anyway, the drugstore chain already sells other diagnostic and testing products such as pregnancy tests, paternity tests, and drug tests."

Comments

Re:Umm, yes

[mi]

Once you accept that she too is a human being, has a family, etc, and isn't there just as some accessory to your wellbeing

I do accept all that, but my train is still late, so I have to ask her to not leave my kid unattended for another 10 minutes...

If she (or her union) claim, she has to leave anyway, or even simply charge me "overtime" (150%, one hour minimum), I'll start looking for a new nanny immediately. And so will you.

Point is, we are all employers...

Fourth, if you'd actually switch a shop because that barber has cancer

Why I actually switch a shop is irrelevant! But, if there anything about my old barber, that's "protected", a reasonably zealous anti-discrimination officer may (nay, must!) get interested anyway — and I'd hate to live in a country, where I'd have to explain all of my, supposedly, free decisions.

"Hello. We've noticed, that over the past 12 months you've ordered pizza 5 times more often than General Tsao's chicken. We suspect, you are a White bigot discriminating against Asians. Please, hand over all of your purchase-records for a closer audit."

This is, what the sufficiently large employers already have to do. Some of them may be bigots, and some may not be — in either case, if I don't want it applied to me, I don't want it applied to anybody.

We may not send the anti-discrimination authorities after you, but don't expect much support or respect there.

You can shove your "support and respect" where the Sun does not shine, but your promise, that you may not send the authorities after me is insufficient. Because tomorrow you "may" change your mind...