tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173393362223742012.post8478978515597902379..comments2023-08-24T08:30:25.608-07:00Comments on Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You: Workman's Compensation, Stereotypes and GATTACASteve Murphy MDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774190000307343476noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173393362223742012.post-24503511630047397702008-05-11T02:11:00.000-07:002008-05-11T02:11:00.000-07:00One of the best articles you've written recent...One of the best articles you've written recently, Steve! Well done!Berci Meskóhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210967075764589134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173393362223742012.post-81960942834386255752008-05-11T05:16:00.000-07:002008-05-11T05:16:00.000-07:00Thanks Berci!-SteveThanks Berci!<br>-SteveSteve Murphy MDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774190000307343476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173393362223742012.post-10901459341052536952008-05-25T19:01:00.000-07:002008-05-25T19:01:00.000-07:00This is ridiculous, Steve. In no way does this ref...This is ridiculous, Steve. In no way does this refute the practice of using objective data to select people. <br><br>"Who can tell someone what to do just because of his genetic predisposition?"<br><br>University admissions, for one.<br><br>As for the disks, my cousin ruined his back at 23 working in a warehouse to pay for college. He could have worked another summer job, but he can't get a new back. Could he have made a better decision if he knew he was at high risk for back damage? Yes.<br><br>"Should we not let him save lives?"<br><br>Come on, Steve. Firefighters, for example, must pass physical fitness tests. Are you saying that an exception should be made because genetics scare old people?Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433343566083450681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173393362223742012.post-23951057583438563092008-05-25T20:14:00.000-07:002008-05-25T20:14:00.000-07:00Sorry if that was a bit harsh (I am a regular read...Sorry if that was a bit harsh (I am a regular reader and love your blog), I just get frustrated when educated people break out the "genetic testing is the bane of your dreams!"<br><br>The PROBLEM is that people aren't worth any potential liabilities to society, and THAT'S tragic.<br><br>BTW:<br><br>I researched the specifics of the "railroad" case (I think this goes out tomorrow on Think Gene, http://www.thinkgene.com/gina-series-genetic-tests-unfairly-favor-the-employer-page-2)<br>The employee was diagnosed with CTS, had approved surgery, returned to work in a few weeks, and then the railroad tried to dishonestly cast doubt to avoid liability.<br><br>This single case is obviously abuse, but it's just that: a single case. If it wasn't a genetic test, it'd be and has always been something else.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10433343566083450681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173393362223742012.post-17605575458649917312008-05-27T07:32:00.000-07:002008-05-27T07:32:00.000-07:00Drew,Sorry to hear about your cousin. My mother is...Drew,<br>Sorry to hear about your cousin. My mother is getting ready for her 12th back surgery for herniated discs. She has had ray cages, fusions, BMP, rods, screws...and now needs another surgery to stabilize the others. So I understand very well the difficulty with herniated discs and chronic pain.<br><br>However, <br>My point was not that we shouldn't be using objective data to quantify or predict. It is what we do with that data and how we as a society allow "What we do" <br><br>Personally, I don't believe in a big brother state. This set of data "Genomics" should not be used to limit. even if that limiting is done in the face of so-called protection. I trust you have seen Gattaca. That is the precise take home message my friend. The same is true for another all time "cheesy" movie Knight's Tale. <br><br>As for legal, all it takes is one case to have case law. 2 is a trend and 3 is written in stone. Unlike science, law is a fickle lady and we cannot allow it to land on the side of those who chose to restrict our freedoms. <br><br>We are in America. Where you can change your stars regardless of your birth right or your genome. <br><br>As for the military, firefighters, police officer...etc. I am not familiar with the firefighters' exam however, as an ex-midshipman...I am pretty familiar with the military's. That physical exam already takes genetics into account in some instances....i.e. try flying jets with sickle cell disease.<br><br>But this is only done in certain specialties of these fields. The entrance military exam does not do genomic screening to weed people out. <br><br>Genes are only the beginning my friend....Epigenomics looms large and will be so much more than faulty data points.<br><br>Trust Me,<br>-SteveSteve Murphy MDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774190000307343476noreply@blogger.com