Final answer:
Ethical and social implications of predictive informatics in health care include privacy concerns, potential discrimination, and the responsible use of genetic information. Legislation like HIPAA and GINA provide some protection, but society must continue to address these ethical challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ethical and social implications of predictive informatics in health care center around issues of privacy, discrimination, and the use of genetic information. Questions like who controls DNA information and how health insurance companies might use genetic predispositions to diseases are crucial in this discussion. Privacy concerns arise over how this sensitive information is stored and shared, particularly against unauthorized access. An integral part of this debate is the ethical consideration surrounding genome sequencing, such as if it should be mandatory, and how the data should be ethically used without breaching an individual's rights.
Legislation like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) protect against unauthorized release and discriminatory practices, but they do have limitations regarding what they cover. There is also a worry about the potential misuse of genetic information, which could lead to adverse scenarios such as job discrimination or increased insurance rates. As technological advances bring the promise of improving health care, they also bring ethical challenges that society must address to safeguard both the benefits of predictive informatics and individual rights.