IBM promising not to use genetic data of workers in granting benefits

IBM promising not to use genetic data of workers in granting benefits

By Steve Lohr
NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE

October 10, 2005

As concerns grow that genetic information could become a modern tool of discrimination, IBM plans to announce a work force privacy policy today.

IBM, the world's largest technology company by revenue, is promising not to use genetic information in hiring or in determining eligibility for its health care or benefits plans.

Genetics policy specialists and privacy rights groups say the IBM pledge to its more than 300,000 employees worldwide appears to be the first such move by a major corporation.

The policy, which comes as Congress is considering legislation on genetic privacy, is a response to the trend in medical research to focus on a person's genetic propensity for disease in hopes of tailoring treatments to specific medical needs.

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Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051010/news_1n10ibm.html

And that's all fine and good ... but I'd much rather they give me some kind of assurances about so-called "global resourcing" and my pay-an-American-mortgage job.

Now GE uses NBC news as its PR department for BushInc and its' booming defense contracts.

with Tim Robbins, it's about a future in which the world is controlled by a corporation, and our genetics are on file. We can only be citizens if our genetics are the right ones, and can only reproduce once our genetics are checked.

another good movie about the horrible things this country is headed for if we dont start making genetic privacy laws.

I met these guys at a party who have started a company that genetically modifies cats to be hypoallergenic. :crazy:

With the massive consolidation that has been rampant for the past few years, they (IBM) won;t even need to, so they are right there..Their "sister" companies will do it for them..

Corporations will just let the "insurance" arms of their venues "search" for the 'safe' employees..

Companies have always liked the young 20-30-somethings, because they cost less to insure, and their family lives are not as intrusive as they will be later on. Most people do not start having real health problems until their 40's anyway, and by then the corporations are already working behind the scenes to figuire out way to get rid of the "older employees"..


Health issues will intrude into all parts of our lives.. Banks and insurance companies are partnered these days, so don;t be surprised when a loan application gets tagged for an "insurability" review.. Some "suit" at an insurance company may decide that someone with a chronic illness is a bad loan risk, and they might get turned down..

Knowledge is power, but not if the knowledge is ABOUT you, and you're not even sure WHO knows all about you.. They may know more about YOU, than YOU do

Foxes have promised farmers not to eat chickens while farmers are away.
O and this just came in breaking news. Large corporations always tell the truth The Random Research facility.inc* Has just finished up months of conclusive tests and have found that all large corporations always tell the truth.


*Subsidiary of IBM

If they said it, it must be true!
*cough* *hack* *choke*

prick."

:eyes:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9654229/

LOS ANGELES - International Business Machines Corp., the world’s largest computer maker, on Monday pledged not to use genetic data to screen employees and applicants in what it said was the first such move by a major corporation to safeguard a new category of privacy.

IBM also said it would refrain from using the data in determining eligibility for health-care or benefits plans.

The pledge comes as Congress debates a proposed privacy bill that would bar health insurers and employers from discriminating against people with a genetic predisposition to disease.

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This is straight out of Gallatica!!!

way to set a precedent.

This is going to become a huge issue in not too many years.

BTW, the movie name was actually Gattaca. :-) The letters of the word refer to the nucleotides in DNA (guanine, adenine, thymine, cytosine).

Peace.

Don't forget, folks, IBM made the filing system for the Jews in the death camps-so, like, we should totally beleive them when they say they won't do Nazi shit 21st century style. The good Dr. is most pleased with this doublethink.