Hospital keeps secret DNA file Children’s University hospital in Temple Street is under investigation by the Data Protection Commissioner Dublin hospital kept DNA file on > 1.5m newborns (from “heel prick tests”)
CrazyRabbit wrote: » And will you be happy when you try to get health insurance and they charge you 3 times the average premium because you are predisposed to certain illnesses? Or what if you don't get a certain job because the employer found some indicator in your DNA that they didn't like? DNA is a very very personal thing, and as our understanding of each gene grows, it can potentially become very damaging to you.
partyatmygaff wrote: » I doubt it would be legal for that information to be passed on to 3rd parties.
Shryke wrote: » What they did wasn't very legal in the first place.
vinylmesh wrote: » One obstacle to having a DNA database is the fact that getting DNA from all the citizens would be a huge undertaking. Well we've just removed that one for everyone under 25 (which includes me ). I hope they are made to destroy these samples (as was suggested in the article).
phantom_lord wrote: » what's wrong with having a dna database? surely it'd be very helpful in fighting crime?
hooradiation wrote: » It's not as useful as movies would have you think, thanks to the methods used to match two DNA samples and the birthday problem erm....I mean rabble rabble rabble scum rabble rabble things were better in my day rabble rabble crime is outta control!
A DUBLIN hospital has built a database containing the DNA of almost every person born in the country since 1984 without their knowledge in an apparent breach of data protection laws.
The hospital has collected almost 2.8m samples since 1966 and diagnosed 1,815 disorders. Samples collected prior to 1984 were destroyed after being contaminated by water damage.
humanji wrote: » Maybe I'm reading this wrong but I think that article may be blowign things out of purportion because it says: But then says: So since 1966 2.8m samples were taken, but all before 1984 were destroyed. So you'd assume there'd be a lot less than 2.8m, which is still hardly counts as "almost ever person born in the country". Also, in any other country I'd be wary of this. But this being Ireland, I really wouldn't be surprised if it's a case of them not being arsed getting reid of them. I'm not happy that they're being kept, but the story definitely is trying to make it out to be more sinister that it it.
My name is URL wrote: » lol at how people don't seem to mind this but get worked up over youngsters throwing snowballs
humanji wrote: » Maybe I'm reading this wrong but I think that article may be blowign things out of purportion because it says: But then says: So since 1966 2.8m samples were taken, but all before 1984 were destroyed. So you'd assume there'd be a lot less than 2.8m, which is still hardly counts as "almost ever person born in the country".
brianthebard wrote: » in the country since 1984'.
phantom_lord wrote: » why should i care if they have a dna sample of mine?
phantom_lord wrote: » if the database is used for research purposes and something good comes out of it then surely that's useful.
Mike 1972 wrote: » Why does one hospital in Dublin have DNA samples for "the entire country" ? Were other hospitals sending the stuff there for some reason or is it it just a general assumption that there is nothing outside of Dublin ?
Mike 1972 wrote: » Thats a rather big "if" is it not ?
Two computer servers containing the records of almost 1m patients were stolen from the Children’s University hospital in Temple Street in 2007 and have never been recovered. Patients’ details, including names, date of birth and reason for admission are thought to have been included.
InReality wrote: » 1984 eh ?
do.ob wrote: » If giving up all my rights helps us fight the scum then sign me up!
Mike 1972 wrote: » So you would happily have me enslave you sieze all your worldly goods and eventually kill you If it can be shown that this will somehow help us fight the scum ?
do.ob wrote: » Yes. I'd gladly live in a much crapper and more unfair world for the fleeting satisfaction I'd feel every time i hear of a scumbag being shown who's boss. I realise that with no human rights I might end up on the recieving end of such punishments (unfairly), but then i am providing satisfaction to all the other citizens when they hear of another "scumbag" getting his comeuppance. In fact they may even show the video of me being abused by the prison gaurds to further enhance the happiness my humiliation brings the people.
