Genetics, Discrimination and Privacy
January 17, 2017
Hosted by Leaha Mattinson
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Guest Information
Episode Description
Recent advances in the understanding of the human genome, genetic testing and treatment should be a boon for those suffering from genetic diseases, offering hope for a better life. However, there is a downside to the growth of genetic information; it is being used to discriminate against those with genetic diseases or predisposition for disease. Discrimination comes in the form of denial of health and life insurance and even refusal to hire employees, or in some cases, the basis of termination. Some countries do better than others in protecting people against such discrimination, but others still lag behind. Bev Heim-Myers is at the forefront of the effort to pass legislation in Canada to prevent such discrimination, which threatens to significantly reduce the potential positive impact of genetic information because many people refuse to find out about their predispositions on the grounds that it will be used not just against them but their children and other family members.
Master Your Life
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Empowerment Channel
Renowned life coach Leaha Mattinson teams up with writer and presenter Dr. Howard Rankin to provide inspiration, insight and intelligence that will help you Master Your Life. Everyone has challenges on their journey and Leaha and Howard are no exception. However, they combine their personal experiences with expertise and knowledge to provide powerful tools to help listeners regain control of their lives. They also bring a vast array of inspirational and insightful guests who add wisdom and practical advice. If you need direction in any area of your life, this entertaining and empowering show is for you.
Leaha Mattinson
Leaha Mattinson is a change management specialist, life coach, speaker, and author who “walks her talk” in a truly extraordinary way. In 2008 she learned she would someday inherit Huntington’s disease, a genetic, neurological, terminal illness that affects the brain and progressively shuts down the mind and body. It was a devastating diagnosis—yet Leaha realized that to be true to the message she shares with clients she must live her life consciously with enthusiasm, grace and gratitude.
She developed her own wellness protocol to halt the onset of the disease by focusing on nutrition, exercise, restorative sleep, mindfulness and a pervasive sense of reverence for life. But the most crucial attribute of Leaha’s success is her mindset: she embraces passion, happiness, and possibility, and turns all negativity into positive life experiences. She attributes her work ethic and values to the example set by her beloved parents and a childhood growing up on a farm where she was immersed in the rhythms of nature.
Her mission is to share these valuable insights with others. As a life and executive coach, she guides her clients toward self-improvement by helping them resolve underlying fears, interrupt bad habits, and break through barriers in order to achieve their goals. She is also a speaker, addressing topics such as stress management, finding courage, discovering purpose, living in uncertainty, and facing terminal illness.
Leaha shares her own life story in her upcoming book "Silver Linings: How to Be Unstoppable in the Face of a Terminal Illness." Master Your Life is aimed at people who are passionate about wellness, personal growth and self-improvement—those who are eager to bring real change to the way they live and find meaning in a world that’s often brutally stressful and disconnected.
Leaha lives on a ranch west of Red Deer, Alberta with her partner Dwayne, their blended family, a pack of happy dogs, and a herd of horses.
