Newborn Genetic Screening - The New Eugenics?

Increasingly, the specter of eugenics has emerged over State government newborn genetic screening programs. For example, The Changing Moral Focus of Newborn Screening, the December 2008 report issued by The President’s Council on Bioethics, states: “...At what point have we crossed the line from legitimate family planning to capricious and morally dubious eugenics?"

Packed press conference to protect medical record privacy & patient control!

House DFL Leadership railroads Baby DNA bill to passage

WIN FOR BABY DNA & FAMILIES!

Last night, citizens won! The baby DNA bill was defeated in the Senate on March 16, 2009 - at least temporarily. Thanks to the nearly 50 concerned citizens that were a very visual (and auditory - think baby) presence in the room (see below). There were individuals, couples, pregnant women, children and babies. There were also other reasons for the defeat (see below).

RE: CCHF Letter Opposing MN Collection of Patient Medical Records

Unless the Administrative Law Judge chooses otherwise, the Minnesota public will be at the mercy of the Health Department's warehousing, data-mining, tracking, research and health care rationing agendas. Their private data will be warehoused in the State of Maine and placed online. They won't have had a choice—or a voice.

"Genetic Information in Minnesota" - Dept of Admin Report

Not without my Permission: Parents' Willingness to Permit Use of Newborn Screening Samples for Research

Background: State newborn screening (NBS) programs are considering the storage and use of NBS blood samples for research. However, no systematic assessment of parents’ attitudes exists. Methods: We conducted an Internet-based survey of a nationally representative parent sample. We examined parents’ willingness (1) to permit use of their children’s NBS samples for research with/without their permission and (2) to allow NBS sample storage. Using bivariate and multinomial logistic regression, we examined the asso ciation of parent and child characteristics with parents’ willingness to permit NBS sample storage and use for research, respectively. Results: The response rate was 49.5%. If permission is obtained, 76.2% of parents were ‘very or somewhat willing’ to permit use of the NBS sample for research. If permission is not obtained, only 28.2% of parents were ‘very or somewhat willing’. Of parents surveyed, 78% would permit storage of their children’s NBS sample. Parents who refused NBS sample storage were also less willing to permit use of the NBS sample for research.

Attorney's Minority Report to MN Genetic Info Report

CCHC Submits Genetic Information Minority Report

In response to the “2009 Genetic Information Report – DRAFT Version Two,” this report was submitted to Commissioner Dana Badgerow, Minnesota Department of Administration by Twila Brase, RN, PHN, Member of the Minnesota Genetic Information Work Group and President of Citizens’ Council on Health Care, January 2009

The Untold PKU Story Challenges Newborn Screening Mandate

Newborn screening advocates often refer to the newborn PKU (phenylketonuria) test as evidence of the benefit of screening—and as a rationale for compulsory testing of newborns nationwide. However, a brief look into the history of PKU testing challenges these assertions. Inaccurate test results, harmed children, untested treatments, and an increase in mental retardation mark the untold PKU story.