Problem: Your neighbors Mary and Nathan have three children. Ethan, their son, has cystic fibrosis (CF). Their other three children are healthy. Mary has applied for a new job, and during her pre-employment physical, she mentions that her son has CF. The provider conducting the physical makes a note of this. Three days later, Mary gets a call from the Human Resources Department at the company to which she had applied. They tell her that they cannot hire her based on the finding that her son has CF. They note that CF is a genetic disease. Mary knocks on your door and complains about how ignorant her prospective employer is and frets that she can do nothing about it.
1. Is Mary at risk of having CF even though she has no symptoms?
2. Is Mary a carrier of a mutation that could cause CF in her offspring? What about Nathan?
3. How would the Genetic Information and Discrimination Act (GINA) affect the outcome of this case?
4. What information is the Human Resources Department missing?