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Unintended Effects of Genetic Testing: Divorce

posted by janrinok on Sunday September 14 2014, @03:59PM   
from the can-you-handle-the-truth? dept.

tt1148204 writes:

"George Doe" is an American biologist who used the direct-to-consumer genetic testing service 23andMe as part of a course he was teaching on the genome — and made a surprising discovery about his family in the process.

His story is a cautionary tale about a man blinded by science failing to anticipate the social consequences of what he thought was a simple clinical revelation. A genetic testing service can reveal such things as a predisposition or otherwise to certain medical conditions - thus providing peace of mind or the advance notice that enables someone to plan for the possible outcomes. It can also reveal the origins of one's ancestors - at least to the accuracy of geographic region or race. But it can also reveal information that is perhaps best unknown in some cases: unknown half-siblings, or unexpected paternity relationships etc. Whether knowing such things is good or bad depends upon the individuals concerned - but the article contains a salutary lesson which resulted in the disintegration of an otherwise happy family relationship.

• Re:ignore this: a tale of medical genetics Re:ignore this: a tale of medical genetics (Score: 2) by Theophrastus on Sunday September 14 2014, @05:32PM

  by Theophrastus (4044) on Sunday September 14 2014, @05:32PM (#93071)

  I admire your ability to judge the likeliness of such events typically 100 years ago in Europe and the States. But until i'm shown your data, impugning the caution of maternity wards, I'll tend to favor the stories told by the descendants in retrospect. ("look! great great Aunt Ethyl had the baby traveling with her niece while visiting the old country" etc)

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• Re:ignore this: a tale of medical genetics (Score: 3, Interesting) by dcollins on Sunday September 14 2014, @05:47PM

  by dcollins (1168) on Sunday September 14 2014, @05:47PM (#93086) Homepage

  I'm sure both happen. Here's a 1998 article in the Baltimore Sun claiming possibly thousands of switches per year:

  http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-08-16/features/1998228086_1_bracelet-delivery-room-baby-id [baltimoresun.com]

  That's not a very solid quote, because it came from a vendor of a proposed solution product. However, the article points out that hospitals didn't even use ID bracelets until the 1950's.

  Anyway, your original comment was fascinating, thanks for posting it.

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