DNA Data From California Newborn Blood Samples Stored, Sold To 3rd Parties (cbslocal.com)

schwit1 writes: "This might come as a surprise to California natives in their 20s and early 30s: The state owns your DNA. Every year about four million newborns in the U.S. get a heel prick at birth, to screen for congenital disorders, that if found early enough, can save their life." However, when those tests are done, the leftover blood isn't simply thrown away. Instead, they're taken to an office building and the DNA data is stored in a database. "It’s a treasure trove of information about you, from the color of your eyes and hair to your pre-disposition to diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer." And that's not the end of it: "The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is not the only agency using the blood spots. Law enforcement can request them. Private companies can buy them to do research – without your consent."

Comments

What's the complaint?

[Anonymous Coward]

Standard herd-management practice; stop disrespecting your owners.

Re:What's the complaint?

[stephanruby]

In my 30's? Check.
Born in Cali? Check.
Born at home? Check! I escaped this one thanks to the awful experience my parents had at the hospital with my brother.

You didn't escape anything.

If they have your brother's dna on file, then they're just one brother away from identifying your dna.

Re:What's the complaint?

[BitterOak]

We still want a sample because

You may want a sample. I want a beach house in Malibu. Luck to us all.

we are mandated by law to screen every baby.

You may be mandated by law to screen every baby, but that doesn't mean I am mandated by law to hand you my baby for screening.

You can avoid this by refusing to have your child participate in the medical and legal systems... we won't mind.. less work.

Please cite the law which says my child can never go to a doctor or hire a lawyer because he hasn't provided the state with a DNA sample.

Sue - Sue - Sue!

[Mitreya]

I don't think this

Law enforcement can request them. Private companies can buy them to do research - without your consent.

neccesarily means that

The state owns your DNA.

Surely it should be possible to establish that individuals own their DNA, particularly from the perspective of private companies that may want to buy them from the state. Lawsuit time?

and you don't own any discoveries . . .

[swell]

No doubt they can patent anything interesting that they find in your blood.
You won't be the first whose DNA made millions for other people.

Only a problem if it's not anonymous

[vistic]

If the DNA information is just collected and stored anonymously, with no record of WHOSE DNA it is, I don't think it's a problem. It's useful for compiling statistics and doing studies. However, if law enforcement is interested in this data, it sounds like they are actually keeping track of who the DNA sample came from. Just make it anonymous.

Re:Was anybody suprised?

[Anonymous Coward]

Eventually we will see a national DNA registry. Something like this will be how it starts.

Actually, it started back in the late 90's with the D.A.R.E. program. Local law enforcement goes around to all the Grade Schools each year, and hands out a bunch of "Your children will be kidnapped and brutally raped, tortured, and killed unless..." literature. They use it to convince the parents to provide DNA (via mouth swabs), fingerprints, and photographs, and stuff it all into a "black" database. Which database is this? Well, it's the national LE database of course, where it lives forever.

DNA is part of my person isn't it?

[Shadow of Eternity]

I do believe I have a right to be secure in my person, papers, etc against an unreasonable search or siezure...