Fwd: [graffis-l] STATE OWNERSHIP OF NEWBORN'S DNA!

[Guest guest]

> " States Claiming Ownership of Newborn's DNA " . . .

>Posted by: " V. " veedot veedotveewire

>Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:01 pm (PDT)

>March 18, 2008 at 18:08:05

>States Claiming Ownership of Newborn's DNA

>by <http://www.opednews.com/author/author10191.html>Marti Oakley

>

>Unknown to most new parents, or those who became parents in the last

>ten or so years, DNA of newborns has been harvested, tested, stored

>and experimented with by all 50 states. And all 50 states are now

>routinely providing these results to the Homeland Security Department.

>

>No doubt we can all see the benefits in testing for genetic disorders

>or genetic traits and tendencies that could be more adequately dealt

>with, in some cases actually deterring the onset of life-time

>illness, but that seems not to be the real thrust of these

>programs. It may have been initially... but not now.

>

>As with all good things, there are always those who seek the more

>evil path, in essence turning what should have been a life saving

>tool, a preventative measure into something insidious and

>inhumane. This is what has happened to this national effort.

>

>Here in Minnesota the state tests for 56 various genetic disorders

>and variants. At least 1/3 of these tests produce a false positive

>meaning that a flaw was identified that actually did not

>exist. Regardless, that false positive becomes part of the permanent

>record of the child and follows them for the rest of their lives as

>does any true positives. This means that the child will eventually

>and most likely face discrimination in employment and the ability to

>gain health insurance at any cost.

>

>There are other nagging problems with this system. Although the

>national website http://genes-r-us.uthscsa.edu/ insists that this

>harvesting of DNA is a highly visible program, my own polling of

>parents of newborns, or the grand parents had no idea that this was

>being done to their children and grand children. Further, not one

>knew that they had the right to demand the blood and tissue samples

>be destroyed after 45 days per written request. Even had they known,

>and the samples were destroyed (you would have no way of knowing if

>they really were) the information gleaned from them would still be

>available and on file... in perpetuity.

>

>Also unknown to at least the new parents in Minnesota, is that once

>that 45 days has lapsed, the state now claims that they " own " the DNA

>of that child. This claimed ownership now allows the state health

>agency to test, tamper, alter, sell, farm out, and utilize in any way

>they see fit, the DNA of your newborn. It can be manipulated,

>spliced with other DNA, and used in ways never intended under the

>screening program.

>

>Now, there are forms that have to be signed that agree to this

>invasion of privacy, but the problem seems to be that this is not

>done during pre-natal care, but rather, at the time of delivery of

>the infant. These forms are produced when the mother is ready to

>deliver and is being admitted to the hospital. That's when these

> " informed consent " forms are dragged out to be signed. This is no

>accident. Expectant parents simply sign what is put in front of them

>and are told they must sign to complete admission. Nice, huh? And

>none of them seems to be aware that what they are signing allows this

>right to have those additional blood and tissue samples

>destroyed. No matter, the damage is done and the results of those

>three extra blood drops are forever recorded and along with it, a lot

>of genetic information about the parents.

>

>Although this is supposed to be an opt-in program, rather than an

> " opt-out " , Minnesota has decided to interpret the law

>differently. Our legislators have decided that opting out is the way

>it should be... regardless of the law. With that in mind they have

>gone one step further and declared that if the parent doesn't

>specifically opt out... they are presumed to have " informed consent "

>and have opted in.

>

>I have to give the special interests in Minnesota their

>dues. Federal law and the courts have upheld the concept that human

>DNA cannot be patented. But these fine folks, representing insurance

>companies, medical institutions, and big pharma have found a way

>around that bothersome ruling. Using a compliant legislature they

>have made sure a system has been put in place that allows them to

>indirectly access what should be the most private of all information,

>the most identifiable information concerning an individual and in the

>case of medical and pharmaceuticals, to use it in any way they see

>fit once the state claims ownership.

>

>In January 2007, a lady named Twila Brase president of the Citizens

>Council on Healthcare, issued a written testimony to the Minnesota

>legislature on the unethical and hidden uses of harvested DNA by the

>state. The 18 page document can be located at:

>http://www.oah.state.mn.us/cases/health4615/nbs-pc8.pdf

>

>It is an eloquent treatise on the misuse of the DNA testing and the

>right of parents to be fully informed of what is really afoot in

>these programs.

>

>Currently, we have a monumental effort under way by Sue Jeffers to

>petition the state to;

>Oppose illegal State government ownership of the blood, DNA and

>genetic test results of newborn citizens in

>Minnesota. http://www.cchconline.org/petition/babyDNA2007.php

>

>In July 1997, solely by an executive decision of health officials-no

>law-the MN Department of Health began retaining the DNA-filled blood

>specimens of all newborn babies.

>

>The State now claims ownership rights to the DNA of more than 670,000

>children (approx.70,000 births/yr).

>In July 1986, MDH began cataloging the genetic test results of all

>Minnesota children. Approximately 1.4 million children are in the database.

>Oppose the dissemination of newborn blood and DNA to genetic researchers

>Oppose the Minnesota Department of Health's refusal to fully inform parents

>Calls on Governor Tim Pawlenty to direct the Minnesota Department of

>Health (MDH) to comply with Minnesota state privacy law, to fully

>inform parents of the genetic testing process and their legal

>rights--and to dismantle MDH's illegal warehouse of newborn citizen

>DNA. (Contact Sue Jeffers directly at: S1U2E3 )

>

>I might suggest that each of you check the national website to

>determine how extensive the DNA testing is in your state, especially

>if you have children 10 years or younger. What you find may sicken you.

>

>The idea of the state, any state, claiming ownership of the DNA of

>anyone, most especially newborn babies is so repugnant to me that I

>cannot find the words to express how offensive this is; what an

>unconscionable breach of humanity this comprises. This issue is not

>one of party affiliation or a right vs. left drama being played

>out. This is the groundwork for future discrimination that will most

>likely surpass employment and insurance targeting but eventually

>could be used to decide who lives or dies, or who can reproduce.

>

>There is however a level of humor in all the debating going on...

>insurance company reps along with those of the business sector

>assured everyone that these genetic tests will never be used to

>discriminate in employment or insurance coverage. Now if that didn't

>make you laugh, nothing will.

>

>But, all of us need to ask ourselves why this information would be of

>any use to Homeland Security? What possible reason could they have

>for cataloging and storing the genetic code of any newborn child?

>

>In the end I find myself wondering where all these big religious

>fomenters are that railed against gay marriage, stem cell research,

>the right to choose for women and a host of other issues that would

>supposedly destroy the traditional American family. Wouldn't losing

>ownership of your child's or your own DNA be far more devastating

>than these issues? And yet, not one rock star preacher has spoken

>one word that I can find condemning this practice. Not a peep! It's

>probably just a case of a lost message in all the speaking God does

>to them when he puts a " word of knowledge in their hearts " about the

>woes of society.

>

>My advice? Find out what is happening in your own state and to what

>extent your state is testing and participating in this program that

>is so loaded with secret agendas and obviously in opposition to many

>state and federal laws. Maybe what is needed is a class action

>lawsuit brought in each state by parents who were unaware that they

>or their children no longer own their own DNA.

>

>Marti Oakley copyright 2008

>http://ppjg.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/states-claiming-ownership-of-newborns-dna/

>http://www.opednews.com/articles/life_a_marti_oa_080318_states_claiming_owne.ht\

m

>~~~

>

>CITIZEN PETITION to Governor Tim Pawlenty

>Opposing Government Ownership of the DNA of Newborn Citizens, and

>Dissemination of Baby DNA to Genetic Researchers without Consent or

>Legal Authority-and Requesting the Immediate Dismantlement of the MN

>Department of Health (MDH) Warehouse of Newborn Citizen DNA.

><snip>

>http://www.cchconline.org/petition/babyDNA2007.php

>~~~

>--

>_

>/ \

>\ _______________________________/\ \

>\ \ \ \ \ \

>\ \ \©2008 veedot\ \ \

>\ \ \____________________________\_\ \

>\ \/_________________________________\

>\_/

> " ... blood samples and other excised human tissues have an afterlife.

>When you go to the doctor for a routine blood test or mole removal,

>when you have an appendectomy, tonsillectomy or any other kind of

>ectomy, the stuff you leave behind doesn't always get thrown out.

>Doctors, hospitals and laboratories keep them. Often indefinitely.

>Some get consent with admission forms that say something like, I give

>my doctor permission to dispose of my tissues or use them in

>research. Others don't. "

>- New York Times, April 16, 2006

>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/magazine/16tissue.html

 

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