NationStates Jolt Archive

I thought this issue is one where there can be plenty of debating, and for a change not about politics or religion.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s177471.htm

The deal is this:
One can do DNA tests on kids which establish whether or not one is the natural parent of the child.
In some cases, fathers have acquired some genetic material from their alleged offspring, and then used it to make sure their wife/girlfriend has been honest.

Obviously, there are some ethical issues with that, so much so that in a good number of countries, the law now requires both parents to agree on the test before it can be done.
Men's Groups have obviously been rather unhappy about it.

What do you think? Should both parent's OK be required?

Well, traditionally it's done by bloodtype, so you have a good chance of detecting infidelity right there... the odds of the other guy having the same blood type as you may be miniscule or substantial, depending on yours, but you could save yourself a lot of trouble and legal hassle by checking the type first.. at least, that's what I remember from Biology class.. Hope I'm not mistaken.

You're all just upset it'll turn out I fathered your children!

Every child should have DNA testing done on themselves and both of their parents which would co-incidentally confirm paternity with all of that data and all of this would then be placed on the birth certificates at the time of birth. Married mother's, single mothers, who cares, that's not the point really, the point is that the best ID method possible and medical records for the future benefit of the child and the most accurate data currently possible by scientific method is the best way to pursue that end.

Mother's cheating on their spouses or women lying to their boyfriends is entirely not an issue that the county clerk (or other person filling out the birth certificate) they shouldn't have any care about that at all. All they need to do is perform the DNA stamping of the child for their record/ID and IF this was mandatory as it should be, then it would not be a personal attack on a married or non-married mother, no single individual would need to feel personally challenged by the sample DNA testing procedure (it would be no different than the footprinting methodology of generations past).

I think it should be done at birth, mandatory.