Given advances in technology and medicine, genetic screening and testing are becoming increasingly common in our society. The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) defines genetic screening as “searching a population of people who possess certain genotypes that (1) are already associated with disease or predispose to disease, (2) may lead to disease in their descendants , or (3) produce other variations not known to be associated with disease” (NHGRI, 2005). The term genetic testing is similar, but differs in that it targets only those individuals deemed to be at high risk for a genetic disease. For example, testing an asymptomatic person in a family with relatives affected by the condition would constitute genetic testing (NHGRI, 2005). For the purposes of this document the two terms will be used interchangeably. Given the growing number of genetic tests available to identify genetic diseases, it is important to examine the ethical implications of genetic screening as well as the arguments for and against this practice. Although many argue that genetic discovery is a beneficial practice, there are still significant numbers of individuals who oppose genetic testing. Grosse et al. (2009) argues that decision making regarding genetic screening should explicitly take into account ethical principles and opportunity costs. The authors discuss opportunity costs in terms of what would happen if funding for other health services were displaced due to expensive genetic screening. They argue that screening programs can lead to diagnostic tests and treatments that are not necessarily benign but are very expensive. However, policymakers and clinicians often neglect to consider cost-effectiveness as a priority in health care… half of article… & Khoury, M.J. (2009). Population screening for genetic diseases in the 21st century: Evidence, economics, and ethics. Public Health Genomics, 1-10.Heshka, J.T., Palleschi, C., Howley, H., Wilson, B., & Wells, P. (2008). A systematic review of the perceived risks and psychological and behavioral impacts of genetic testing. Genetics in medicine, 10, 19-32. National Human Genome Research Institute. (2005). Genetic Testing Report-Chapter 1. Retrieved April 18, 2014, from http://www.genome.gov/10002405Ross, L.F., Saal, H.M., David, K.L., & Anderson, R.R. (2013). Technical report: Ethical and policy issues in genetic testing and screening of children. Genetics in Medicine, 15, 234-245. Savulescu, J. (2007). Genetic interventions and ethics of valorisation of the human being. In B. Steinbock (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of Bioethics (pp. 417-427). Oxford University Press.