HARRY HUGHES, Governor

673

Defined term: "Hereditary disorder" § 13-101

(C) HEREDITARY DISORDER.

"HEREDITARY DISORDER" MEANS ANY DISORDER THAT IS
TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE GENETIC MATERIAL DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC
ACID (DNA).

REVISOR'S NOTE: This subsection formerly appeared as
Article 43, § 817(b).

The former reference to transmission "from a
parent or parents to his or her child" is deleted
as unnecessary in light of the reference to
genetic material.

The only other changes are in style.

13-102. FINDINGS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT:

(1)  EVERYONE IN THIS STATE IS ENTITLED TO THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF HEALTH CARE ATTAINABLE AND PROTECTION FROM
INADEQUATE HEALTH SERVICES;

(2)  HEREDITARY DISORDERS ARE OFTEN COSTLY AND
TRAGIC AND SOMETIMES DEADLY BURDENS TO THE HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE;

(3)  DETECTION THROUGH SCREENING FOR HEREDITARY
DISORDERS CAN:

(I)  LEAD TO ALLEVIATION OF THE DISABILITY
OF SOME HEREDITARY DISORDERS; AND

(II)  FURTHER THE UNDERSTANDING OF AND
ACCUMULATION OF MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OTHER HEREDITARY
DISORDERS THAT MAY LEAD TO THEIR EVENTUAL ALLEVIATION OR
CURE;

(4)  HEREDITARY DISORDERS DIFFER IN SEVERITY, IN
THAT:

(I)  SOME HAVE LITTLE EFFECT ON THE NORMAL
FUNCTIONING OF AN INDIVIDUAL; AND

(II)  SOME MAY BE ALLEVIATED, WHOLLY OR
PARTLY, THROUGH MEDICAL INTERVENTION AMD TREATMENT;

(5)  MOST, IF NOT ALL, INDIVIDUALS ARE CARRIERS
OF SOME HEREDITARY DISORDER AND ARE SUBSTANTIALLY UNAFFECTED
BY THAT FACT;

(6)  A CARRIER OF A HEREDITARY DISORDER SHOULD