Hospital dna samples may be used to help solve crimes
Friday 19 October 2012
Police and the public prosecution department may be given access to dna samples held by hospitals for research purposes, Nos television reported on Friday.
The broadcaster says the health ministry has discussed the idea with health professionals but a spokesman for health minister Edith Schippers denies draft legislation has already been drawn up.
Although the initial plans would limit research to serious crimes, such as murder and rape, academics fear it will be expanded and patients will stop cooperating with research projects, Nos says.
The national doctors’ association KNMG says the move is an effort to create a national data base. Hospitals currently hold human tissue from around one million people for research purposes, Nos says.
At the moment, only people suspected of crimes with a jail sentence of at least four years have to hand over dna. The Dutch forensic institute data bank now contains the dna of 11,000 people.
Shouldn't we all give our dna to a national register? Share your thoughts using the comment box below.
© DutchNews.nl
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No, for thats one more step taking away our rights to privacy. Stick to the initial plans. If we give our dna to the register what next is the goverment going to ask of us... our blood? or body parts? or our life itself?
By dee | 19 October 2012 5:01 PMA complete infringement of human rights, this is a police state move that insinuates that everyone is guilty of something. This will breed a total feeling of mistrust between government, the police and the innocent public. Not a good idea.
By AndyT | 19 October 2012 5:24 PMWhat a great idea! (NOT!) People seeking medical treatment can then "contribute" to a database to which they never consented. And with a national registry, the effect is that everyone's a suspect. What a concept!
By Drawer 22 | 19 October 2012 6:49 PMThis is a serious violation of our rights. Unbelievable!
By Quince | 19 October 2012 10:57 PMUNBELIEVABLE! A step too far!
By Ames | 20 October 2012 12:37 PMHi,
By Terence Hale | 20 October 2012 1:18 PMHospital and samples may be used to help solve crimes. Only on Sunday. You Dutch are so practical it border on stupidity. Why not give the DNA of every new born to the insurance, police and all. It’s all in our genes.
Wow! So now Law & Order is more important than the public health miracle evolving from dna research. So glad I never gave a dna sample to the medical professionals. Never will now - knowing it can be given away at the stroke of a government beaurocrats pen.
By Max Harmreduction | 20 October 2012 9:13 PMJune 2002 I was fighting for life when nurse asked my DNA to send for Utrecht.I wonder what you did with it? Do you need new?
By Wendy | 22 October 2012 8:21 PM