A pending bill on the floor of the Minnesota House and Senate will strip citizens of genetic privacy
and DNA ownership rights. Today, a state genetic privacy law requires
informed parent consent for government testing, ownership and research
on the DNA of the newest Minnesota residents. The Minnesota Department
of Health wants to eliminate the informed consent requirements. A bill
to remove consent requirements for government ownership and genetic
research will soon be voted on by the Minnesota House and Senate.
Thus far, the state of Minnesota has illegally collected and claims
ownership to the DNA of 780,000 children (soon to be voting adults) and
has provided the DNA of 42,210 children to genetic researchers without
parent consent. Approximately, 73,000 children are born in Minnesota
every year. About 4.2 million children are born across the nation. All
of them are losing their genetic privacy and DNA ownership rights.
Listen in to an interview of Twila Brase, president of CCHC, as she
discusses what's at stake for all citizens in the pending legislation.
Complete form prior to testing if wish to refuse
government
testing of child, government retention of child DNA as state property,
and entry of genetic tests into a State government database.
Use form for all children born on or after July 1, 1986 -
when
retention of test results began. Retention of blood—and baby DNA—began
eleven years later, in July 1997.
Although the proposed department RULE was withdrawn in 2003
due
to
public outcry, the state LAW (M.S. 62J.301 and 62J.321)
was not repealed. By law, the health department can still gather
private medical
records data, including genetic data, without patient consent. No rule
is required.
The Newborn Screening Card - card for collecting five bloodspots
CCHC Activities in Support of Privacy Rights, Parent
Rights,
and DNA Property
Rights
