This was the FB post I wrote awhile back;
Gotta love the French. I fill out this lengthy questionnaire for the genetics counselor. I've been approved for testing. I have to go through pretty much every detail of my family's medical history.
They don't ask my ethnic origins. Not one single question about this. Yes, what they'd look for is more common in people of my background. Wouldn't you think this would be a no-brainer for a *genetic* testing form?
So I block letter a message on the bottom saying "I am of Ashkenazi, Eastern-Eruopean Jewish descent. BRCA 1 & 2 (the genes they will test for) 1/40, general population 1/800."
Was I subtle enough??
I drove my busted car to the store and I get a "blocked" call. That usually means a doctor and since I just had seen Dr. G. that morning, I picked it up.
I left my shopping basket and headed outside. One thing I've learned that with my accent, I can't "compete" with any other noise. Luckily, it's a small local store and I think the lady behind the counter figured it out, that it was important.
It wasn't the geneticist but probably an intern, since it's Strauss. The earliest apt. they could give me was June. I wasn't concerned. June is fine! I asked what they'd test for and it'll only be the BRCA 1 & 2 gene mutations. Okay. There are others but even more rare and not specific to my background.
I did have to mention, what is this about not asking ethnic origins on a GENETIC questionnaire?? He agreed that it was stupid but it's actually illegal to ask about ethnic origins on any sort of official form here in France. He also said that I had done the right thing by writing the note at the bottom of my form (since it's obvious I'm volunteering that info) but that with my familys' last names, they would have figured it out.
Gotta love the French. I fill out this lengthy questionnaire for the genetics counselor. I've been approved for testing. I have to go through pretty much every detail of my family's medical history.
They don't ask my ethnic origins. Not one single question about this. Yes, what they'd look for is more common in people of my background. Wouldn't you think this would be a no-brainer for a *genetic* testing form?
So I block letter a message on the bottom saying "I am of Ashkenazi, Eastern-Eruopean Jewish descent. BRCA 1 & 2 (the genes they will test for) 1/40, general population 1/800."
Was I subtle enough??
I drove my busted car to the store and I get a "blocked" call. That usually means a doctor and since I just had seen Dr. G. that morning, I picked it up.
I left my shopping basket and headed outside. One thing I've learned that with my accent, I can't "compete" with any other noise. Luckily, it's a small local store and I think the lady behind the counter figured it out, that it was important.
It wasn't the geneticist but probably an intern, since it's Strauss. The earliest apt. they could give me was June. I wasn't concerned. June is fine! I asked what they'd test for and it'll only be the BRCA 1 & 2 gene mutations. Okay. There are others but even more rare and not specific to my background.
I did have to mention, what is this about not asking ethnic origins on a GENETIC questionnaire?? He agreed that it was stupid but it's actually illegal to ask about ethnic origins on any sort of official form here in France. He also said that I had done the right thing by writing the note at the bottom of my form (since it's obvious I'm volunteering that info) but that with my familys' last names, they would have figured it out.
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