Answer to Question 1
GINA, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, became law on May 21, 2008 . Its basic purpose is to protect people from discrimination by health insurers and employers based on genetic information. In a proposed 2009 rule clarifying GINA, genetic information was defined as health information. Health plans were prohibited from using it in eligibility determinations, premium computations, and applications of any pre-existing condition exclusions. The latest updates on GINA, effective in 2011, clarify who the law covers in regard to employment: applicants, trainees, apprentices, and current and former employees.
The definition of genetic information is very broad. The law may be violated with no intent to violate it. Genetic information includes genetic tests of the person and family members. It also includes family medical history as well as an individual's request for genetic counseling. An employer may not gather genetic information or even inadvertently come into possession of it. He or she may not do an Internet search on an individual that will result in the acquisition of genetic information, listen to conversations to hear genetic information, or make a request for health information in a way that is likely to elicit genetic information
Answer to Question 2
Message integrity, nonrepudiation, user authentication.
