Re: Free DNA Testing - There is a cost
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In reply to:
Re: Free DNA Testing - There is a cost
Robert Stafford 10/06/05
I have no interest in arguing the point. That will certainly occur with the first class action law suit down the line. My interest is simply in pointing out observations derived from my own experience.
If Sorenson's intentions are so benign, one has to ask why has Sorenson drawn the attention of the Wall Street Journal.
It would appear WSJ's interest is in the prospects of a big revenue generating company built on dna testing.
The privatization of test participant names by Sorenson is a smoke screen. DNA is about number identifiers, not names. In criminal practice, dna numbers lead to identification of names & individuals. One subpoena served upon Sorenson for the name of an individual belonging to a dna sequence, and the name or identitiy of a test participant will not be private any longer. It's doubful Sorenson would opt for jail time like journalists, rather than surrender a name identity.
When Sorenson states that participation is voluntary, that is their way of saying you have no claim against the company later because you made a choice of your own will. Thank you for this further evidence of my observation that Sorenson's intention is to co-opt the test participant.
When the contract is cited as evidence, be mindful of the question: is the contract unilateral or bilateral? If both Sorenson and the test partipant can put things into the contract, then the contract is bi-lateral. However, Sorenson does not allow alterations to their contract by test participants. Hence the contract is unilateral, or as some might say, one sided. When is one sided fair?
Who would buy dna databases? Most anyone who today buys informational databases - employers, government, credit providers, law enforcement. The list can run ad infinitum.
Selling dna data is becoming big business and Wall Street knows it.
Test samples being destroyed is an interesting point. Professional record keeping is required of companies. There is still an identity trail even if test samples are destroyed. If there is no identity trail, then the provided results and the company's reputation is entirely suspect. The company can't have it both ways.
There are about ten more items that could be addressed from the previous posting. However, my observations are made.