“Oh GINA, GINA, Goddess of Love That You Are”

OK, you don’t remember that song, or more likely, never heard it.  It’s from the 60s.  Now fast forward to the 21st Century.  GINA is the “Genetic Iformation Nondiscrimination Act of 2008.”  Basically, the Act provides that genetic information cannot be obtained or used in making employment decisions.The EEOC recently issued some clarifying regulations (1/10/11) stating that when an employee uses extended medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, the employer cannot obtain genetic information as part of the doctor’s certification of the qualifying disability.  Genetic information includes references to the patient’s family history of disease, not just actual genetic testing results.