NHS plans to DNA test all newborn babies

[Southerner]

From the BBC:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1ljg7v0vmpo

“Every newborn baby in England will have their DNA mapped to assess their risk of hundreds of diseases, under NHS plans for the next 10 years.”

Perhaps slightly surprisingly, the article makes no mention at all of any concerns around the rather obvious civil liberties or data security issues.

[Narcisus]

Seems like a great idea to me

[Southerner]

Narcisus said:

Seems like a great idea to me

Very much a one camp or the other sort of topic, I suspect!

[119]

Southerner said:

From the BBC:



Perhaps slightly surprisingly, the article makes no mention at all of any concerns around the rather obvious civil liberties or data security issues.

What issues would there be?

[Mr E]

119 said:

What issues would there be?

Generally that the data will be compromised and/or left on a train by a civil servant after one too many shandies on a Thursday evening.

Likely both.

[Leithen]

Gattaca....

[Southerner]

Mr E said:

119 said:

What issues would there be?

Generally that the data will be compromised and/or left on a train by a civil servant after one too many shandies on a Thursday evening.

Likely both.

Or that the data is shared with ‘other agencies’; the appeal of maintaining a full scale national DNA database won’t pass the police etc without them noticing I would imagine.

[Arrivalist]

Leithen said:

Gattaca....

At least the right DNA gets you a ride in a rocket.

[119]

Southerner said:

Mr E said:

119 said:

What issues would there be?

Generally that the data will be compromised and/or left on a train by a civil servant after one too many shandies on a Thursday evening.

Likely both.

Or that the data is shared with other agencies ; the appeal of maintaining a full scale national DNA database won t pass the police etc without them noticing I would imagine.

And what makes you think they have even a remote interest in anyone if they had this data?

Considering we are already one of the most monitored countries I can’t see this making any difference whatsoever to every day people.

[bitchstewie]

It's easy to focus on any possible downside.

I'd like to think most parents would see this as a massive positive surely?

[Mr E]

Southerner said:

Mr E said:

119 said:

What issues would there be?

Generally that the data will be compromised and/or left on a train by a civil servant after one too many shandies on a Thursday evening.

Likely both.

Or that the data is shared with other agencies ; the appeal of maintaining a full scale national DNA database won t pass the police etc without them noticing I would imagine.

I’m terribly sorry, we don’t wish to insure you because we’ve seen your genetic risk of…

[L1OFF]

Mr E said:

Southerner said:

Mr E said:

119 said:

What issues would there be?

Generally that the data will be compromised and/or left on a train by a civil servant after one too many shandies on a Thursday evening.

Likely both.

Or that the data is shared with other agencies ; the appeal of maintaining a full scale national DNA database won t pass the police etc without them noticing I would imagine.

I m terribly sorry, we don t wish to insure you because we ve seen your genetic risk of

You could of course reverse this, if a life insurance company will insure you that would mean you are a very low risk so do you really need it

[JagLover]

Southerner said:

From the BBC:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1ljg7v0vmpo

Every newborn baby in England will have their DNA mapped to assess their risk of hundreds of diseases, under NHS plans for the next 10 years.

Perhaps slightly surprisingly, the article makes no mention at all of any concerns around the rather obvious civil liberties or data security issues.

An obvious question is whether that is being shared with the supposed Father as a paternity test.

[Leithen]

L1OFF said:

You could of course reverse this, if a life insurance company will insure you that would mean you are a very low risk so do you really need it

DNA is less relevant if you are run over by a bus…

[Mr E]

JagLover said:

An obvious question is whether that is being shared with the supposed Father as a paternity test.

I’d not considered that. I’ve forgotten the stats around it, but it’s high.

[JagLover]

Mr E said:

I d not considered that. I ve forgotten the stats around it, but it s high.

Eighteen years, eighteen years
And on the eighteenth birthday he found out it wasn't his

[Roofless Toothless]

I’ve said this before - and been laughed at for it - but I will say it again. How many people living in Germany in the early 1930’s would have guessed that by the end of the decade they would be under the rule of a regime that would transport you to extermination camps simply for being of the wrong racial origin.

There is no reason to suppose that history could not repeat itself. A national DNA database that would reveal the racial origins of every UK citizen is not a good idea.

[Earthdweller]

Oh look a national DNA database with the genetic identity of every citizen recorded

[119]

Earthdweller said:

Oh look a national DNA database with the genetic identity of every citizen recorded

But how long would that likely take to get 100% of the population through?

[ColdoRS]

Once you give up your right to privacy, you never get it back.

This country has proven time and time again that it is useless at keeping your data private; I can't see how anyone would think this would be any different. Fast forward a while, some changes in the law and your DNA is shared with other organisations or sold to the highest bidder for 'research'. At best you get some targeted e-mails from companies selling medicine or health products, at worst your DNA has been cloned and crimes are being committed leaving your mark behind.

Say no to this.