4.26.2022
The NSGC is committed to confronting the unjust use of genetic information which leads to the oppression of people of color and other marginalized communities. These actions have contributed to a dire public health crisis, systemic racism, and health inequity. NSGC believes that the genetics community has a responsibility to acknowledge and address past and current injustices by building trust with systemically marginalized communities, taking steps to mitigate health disparities, and pursuing equity in access to genetic and genomic medicine for the patients and communities we serve.
NSGC condemns racist and oppressive policies, practices, and statements. NSGC urges all healthcare providers, researchers, educators, institutions, payers, and companies to equitably deliver genomic medicine to all individuals with cultural humility, regardless of (but not limited to) genetic status, age, sex, gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, country of origin, culture, religion, spiritual beliefs, language, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, legal status, citizenship, health history, and disability. Furthermore, NSGC believes the burden of responsibility to address and prevent inequitable use of genetic information cannot and should not lie with those populations who have been a target of its discriminatory use.
NSGC supports measures to remove systemic barriers in medicine. These include (but are not limited to) anti-racist legislation that increases equitable access to healthcare, research that is inclusive of and directly beneficial to historically marginalized communities, education that promotes ethical and accurate use of genetic information, and genetic and genomic services that are delivered equitably to all.
To learn more about NSGC’s efforts in confronting racism, oppression, and inequity in Genetic and Genomic Medicine, and to access additional resources around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion-related topics, please visit: https://www.nsgc.org/JEDI
NSGC commits to reviewing this position statement annually and publishing an annual progress report on these efforts on the NSGC website.
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