Genetics
Public Comments
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October 21, 2011
The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to make sweeping changes to federal regulations on human subjects research. In this response to the administration's request for public comments on their Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CCHF says data and DNA ownership as well as patient consent for access to and use of medical records and biospecimens collected from patients in clinics, hospitals and elsewhere is necessary.
Announcement
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December 14, 2010
Press Releases
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August 25, 2010
Yesterday, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled to affirm the lower court's dismissal of the 9-parent lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The parents had challenged the collection, retention, use, and dissemination of newborn DNA by MDH as unconstitutional and in violation of the Minnesota Genetic Privacy Act.
Press Releases
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June 24, 2010
According to Recommendations from HHS, the newborn DNA of children is a valuable resource that should be banked by government and made available to researchers without parent consent. Citizens' Council on Health Care has responded in opposition by sending public comments to HHS.
Public Comments
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June 23, 2010
CCHF responds to HHS Request for Public Comments on “Considerations and Recommendations for National Guidance Regarding the Retention and Use of Residual Dried Blood Spot Specimens after Newborn Screening,” – a Briefing Paper issued April 26, 2010 by HHS through the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children.
Press Releases
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February 24, 2010
Texas began storing newborn DNA, collected for the newborn screening program, in 2002 without parent consent. A recent lawsuit against the State was settled, forcing Texas officials to destroy the 5.3 million infant blood spots in storage.
Press Releases
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December 22, 2009
The Texas Department of Health should never have stored or analyzed the DNA and unique genetic codes of its newborn citizens. It is only right that they destroy the genetic information that they have stored and given to researchers without legal authority or the consent of parents.
Multimedia
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May 20, 2009
Thus far, the state of Minnesota has illegally collected and claims ownership to the DNA of 780,000 children (soon to be voting adults) and has provided the DNA of 42,210 children to genetic researchers without parent consent. Approximately, 73,000 children are born in Minnesota every year. About 4.2 million children are born across the nation. All of them are losing their genetic privacy and DNA ownership rights. Listen in to an interview of Twila Brase, president of CCHC, as she discusses what's at stake for all citizens in the pending legislation.
National Reports
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April 01, 2009
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?"
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.