Burroughs A Maxwell
Boston University, USA.
J Biolaw Bus. 2005;8(4):22-32.
The medical examination has been an integral part of the immigration application process since the passing of the Immigration Act of 1891. Failing the medical examination can result in denial of the application. Over the years the medical examination has been expanded to include questioning about diseases that are scientifically shown to be rooted in an individual's genetic makeup. Recent advances in the fields of genomics and bioinformatics are making accurate and precise screening for these conditions a reality. Government policymakers will soon be faced with decisions regarding whether or not to sanction the use of these newly-developed genetic tests in the immigration application procedure. The terror threat currently facing the United States may ultimately bolster the argument in favor of genetic testing and/or DNA collection of applicants. However, the possibility of a government mandate requiring genetic testing raises a host of ethical issues; including the threat of eugenics and privacy concerns. Genetic testing has the ability to uncover a wealth of sensitive medical information about an individual and currently there are no medical information privacy protections afforded to immigration applicants. This article examines the potential for genetic testing in the immigration application process and the ethical issues surrounding this testing. In particular, this article explores the existing framework of privacy protections afforded to individuals living in the United States and how this and newly-erected standards like those released by the Health and Human Services (HHS) might apply to individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States.
自1891年《移民法》通过以来，体检一直是移民申请过程中不可或缺的一部分。体检不合格可能导致申请被拒。多年来，体检范围不断扩大，包括询问一些经科学证明与个人基因构成相关的疾病。基因组学和生物信息学领域的最新进展使针对这些疾病进行准确精确的筛查成为现实。政府政策制定者很快将面临是否批准在移民申请程序中使用这些新开发的基因检测的决策。美国目前面临的恐怖主义威胁最终可能会支持有利于对申请人进行基因检测和/或采集DNA的论点。然而，政府强制要求进行基因检测的可能性引发了一系列伦理问题，包括优生学的威胁和隐私担忧。基因检测能够揭示大量有关个人的敏感医疗信息，而目前移民申请人的医疗信息并无隐私保护措施。本文探讨了移民申请过程中进行基因检测的可能性以及围绕这种检测的伦理问题。特别是，本文探讨了美国境内居民现有的隐私保护框架，以及这一框架和诸如卫生与公众服务部（HHS）发布的新设立标准可能如何适用于寻求移民美国的人。
