People are suing TDHS b/c of a sample of their baby's blood??? (Austin: university)

[FueledByBlueBell]

Seriously? People care about this OR are they trying to find a reason to make money? What a waste of something that could contribute to research. Infuriating.

Texas to destroy baby blood taken without consent (http://www.statesman.com/news/texas/texas-to-destroy-baby-blood-taken-without-consent-140784.html - broken link)

[TexasHorseLady]

It doesn't look like the suit was for damages, but to have the blood samples that were kept without parental consent destroyed. Which is being done. That eliminates the "reason to make money" issue.

So, yes, apparently there are quite a few parents who are concerned about the state having and storing their children's DNA without permission. I can see constitutional issues involved here and apparently that's what was the concern of the courts, as well, from the little bit the article says.

Also, apparently the state can continue to save blood samples with permission of the parents. Shouldn't they have been doing that all along, asking permission? (And, yes, when I read the article, I started wondering how long this has been going on and was relieved to see that it was well after the birth of my youngest child that it was instituted.)

[mimimomx3]

It's called government intrusion and a right to privacy. No ONE should help themselves to a person's blood without their permission or their parents.

[intmd8r]

Absolutely. I have to admit I would not be comfortable if I heard the state of Arizona was keeping blood from our son and we were unaware. Not much is more personal than the blood from your body!

The very fact that it was done without permission seems somewhat insidious unto itself (although it probably isn't).

[OneJackson]

I would've sued as well.

[paul6835]

....sued the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas A&M University System.

Thats is some poor medical ethics to be taking human samples without consent. This isn't livestock, A&M!

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Er, maybe they're looking for the creme de la creme in terms of DNA, (illness, longevity, etc). Maybe the best will go to the next habitable planet and they need to start growing them now.



(yes, I make spelling errors and grammar errors as well, I probably do not use the correct form of "etc". So sue me)


And according to the Austin American-Statesman in an article written by Mary Ann Roser
"the state will destroy 5.3 million samples it has collected between 2002, when the Department of State Health Services began storing the blood, and May 27, when a new state law restricting the practice was signed."



5.3 million??? Busy little bees they are over thar.