How was this missed?

[mammalicious]

I don't recall much talk about this when it happened, did it get by unnoticed? The potential for misuse and abuse is staggering...all without consent.


Bush Signs Bill To Take All Newborns' DNA


Bush Signs Bill To Take All Newborns' DNA

[MississippiMud]

Considering the source - Alex "I never met a conspiracy theory I didn’t like" Jones you might not be too quick to jump off the bridge just yet.

A quick look found this


What is the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act?

The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act (H.R. 3825, S. 1858) is a compromise bill between the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act (H.R. 1634, S. 634) and the Screening for Health of Infants and Newborns Act (H.R. 2889, S.1712). This legislation establishes grant programs, which are to be awarded to eligible entities to provide education in congenital, genetic, and metabolic disorders; and training in newborn screening technologies. Grant programs are also to be used to coordinate follow-up care. In addition to grant programs, this bill increases consumer awareness and knowledge of family support services, research, and other resources in newborn screening; improves laboratory quality standards; develops a national contingency plan if a public health situation arises; and establishes a central online clearinghouse. Finally, the bill renews the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases in Newborns and Children, and expands and coordinates research, particularly on conditions that could be added to the panel in the future.
Genetic Alliance – Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act

That said this type of stuff certainly could be dangerous in the hands of an abusive government bent on controlling the masses. They always spin this stuff under some sort of "this is good for you" pitch.

[Lucas]

Alex Jones elicits big LOLs.

[ProtectBabyDNA]

Hello mammalicious,

We opposed the bill, writing a paper critiquing it (find online). It includes several sections focused on newborn screening research. As our organization has discovered, State health departments around the United States have begun to claim and store baby DNA without parent consent or knowledge. One commenter recently called baby DNA a "national treasure." Uses of infant DNA include publicly- and privately-funded genetic research aimed at expanding the number of conditions for which children are tested at birth without parent consent.

Although the test was originally aimed at discovering rare newborn conditions, there are tests now under development for testing children for childhood- and adult-onset diseases and disorders, including diabetes and cancer, conditions that individuals have a right not to know and not to share with government. One genetic coalition in the U.S. envisions a day when all children are tested at birth by the state government for at least 200 conditions.

In many States, parents cannot refuse the testing, unless they can claim a religious exemption. In Nebraska, several parents have been taken to court when they refused the testing. Parent refusal is growing in Minnesota (MN) where a 2003 law allows parents to opt out of testing and storage of both test results and the DNA—although many parents report being badgered by hospital staff (see our "Taking Baby DNA" stories online - Taking Baby DNA - Real-Life Stories). In 2008, 89 parents refused. We hear from parents around the country that want the testing, primarily the PKU, but they do not want the State to get their baby's DNA. Some parents opt to pay for private testing.

Another MN law requires written consent for government and private entity's collection, storage, use and dissemination of genetic information, but the Minnesota Department of Health has refused to follow the law. As a result, there is a LAWSUIT pending in Minnesota, filed by ten families. Another Fourth Amendment lawsuit is pending in Texas.

The newborn genetic testing issue generally has two areas of concern. There are growing concerns about about expanding the conditions for which newborn citizens are tested (for instance, the President's Council on Bioethics newborn screening paper (12/08) cautions against a slide into eugenics) and there are concerns about the storage, unconsented genetic research and presumed ownership by government of the child's unique genetic code, as discussed by The Washington Post on June 30, 2009...and the Glenn Beck Program on April 24, 2009 (viewable on our website).

Go to IT'S MY DNA! (protectbabyDNA.org) for more information.

[donquixote99]

I do think we should have the right to reproduce with with natural DNA (our own or donated), or whatever legally-available DNA we choose. Without this, I expect we'll see the government (for good-for-us-reasons, of course) telling us what DNA to use, and we'll all be people designed by the government by and by.

I'd like to see this personal-control-of-DNA right in the constitution. The best time would be well before it's needed. Now would be good.

[Bateman]

From what I hear if you get it to the point where you're about to lose control of your DNA you should sstop for a while and then continue again and this way you eventually get complete mastery of your DNA.

[donquixote99]

If I'm understanding you right, you're referring to the DNA contained in particular precious bodily fluids. You might check out some folks into certain disciplines of Tantric Buddhism for some helpful hints there.