Differentiate the legal and professional policies influencing healthcare decisions.
Scenario
You recognize your role as a client advocate and have decided to collaborate with the
American Nurses Association related to health policy issues. You choose to write a letter to
your national legislator in your voting district addressing legal and professional policies
associated with genetic discrimination that you have seen personally or in the news.
Instructions
Write a professional letter to your legislator demonstrating advocacy for legal and
professional policies that protect individuals from genetic discrimination.
Include this content in the letter:
• Description of an example of genetic discrimination witnessed personally or in the
news
• Recommendations for strategies to avoid genetic discrimination aligned with the
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA)
Differentiating Legal and Professional Policies in Healthcare
Legal policies are laws, regulations, and statutes that are created and enforced by governmental bodies. In healthcare, these policies are binding and carry a penalty for non-compliance. They set the minimum standard of care and define what is permissible or required by law. Examples include the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patient privacy, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which dictates health insurance standards.
Professional policies, on the other hand, are ethical guidelines, standards of practice, and best-practice recommendations established by professional organizations like the American Nurses Association (ANA) or the American Medical Association (AMA). These policies guide the behavior and decision-making of healthcare professionals. While not legally binding in the same way as laws, they are essential for maintaining professional integrity and can be used to inform legal standards. For instance, an organization's code of ethics outlines the moral obligations of its members, and violating these can lead to professional sanctions, such as loss of license.
A Letter to a National Legislator
[Your Name/Title] [Your Street Address] [Your City, State, Zip Code] [Your Email Address] [Your Phone Number]
[Date]
The Honorable [Legislator's Full Name] United States House of Representatives / United States Senate [Legislator's Office Address] [City, State, Zip Code]
Subject: Strengthening Protections Against Genetic Discrimination in Healthcare and Employment
Dear Representative [Legislator's Last Name],
As a registered nurse and a constituent in your voting district, I am writing to you today in collaboration with the American Nurses Association (ANA) to advocate for stronger legal and professional policies to combat genetic discrimination. My role as a client advocate compels me to speak out on this issue, which threatens the fundamental rights and well-being of individuals and could undermine the public's trust in medical advancements.
I was recently troubled by a news report detailing a case of genetic discrimination that, while not personal, highlights a significant flaw in our current system. A young man, a firefighter, was asked to undergo genetic testing as part of a routine health screening. The results indicated he had a genetic marker for a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder. Despite being completely asymptomatic and performing his job without issue, he was denied a promotion and later faced subtle pressure to resign. The fire department cited "future health risks" as their rationale. This situation is a clear violation of a person's right to privacy and employment, effectively penalizing them for a health condition they may never even develop.