Government-Mandated Nationwide Infant DNA Collection and Database

The State of Minnesota had been illegally collecting and storing blood samples of infants born since 1997 in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Health. The samples were collected against a statute stating it must be done with parental consent. A further bill was passed legalizing infant DNA to be routinely collected without being subject to any privacy law, without parental consent. The children's DNA is being warehoused without the awareness of most parents, and can be accessed by the state and researchers without informed consent.

More than 40,000 Minnesota children's DNA has already been used without informed consent.

The recent law S. 1858 signed by President Bush was styled after this system. It is now slated to be implemented nationwide within the next 6 months.

This video is worth a watch...

From Youtube -- This video's description states:
This video from the April 1, 2008 Minnesota Senate floor session features a valiant effort by Sen. Betsy Wergin (R, Princeton) to amend SF3138 in order to protect newborn genetic privacy. Sen. Wergin's amendments were unfortunately defeated by the DFL-controlled Senate.

Unbeknownst to parents, the Minnesota Department of Health has been collecting and storing infant DNA since 1997. Last year, a judge ordered the Department to cease this practice and comply with Minnesota law that requires informed written parental consent. But instead of complying, the Department of Health has worked to change the law, thereby allowing the Department to continue their practice of collecting DNA without a parent's expressed permission. Bill number SF3138 is the result of these efforts.




Here's a video from the CCHC Press Conference on Infant Genetic Privacy.



Our DNA is ours. It belongs to the individual.

Does any law have the right to take away this inalienable right??