23 pairs of chromosomes

The lurid coverage of the birth and now apparently the disputed paternity of the child in Eastbourne highlights some important issues.   From the media furore it appears that all ethical considerations and indeed the confidentiality of those concerned has been disregarded.  OK on the confidentiality issues the 2 “new” prospective fathers have given up their rights to confidentiality in return for..well you can read that for yourselves in the coverage.

But the confidentiality of the child?  In fact what about the best interests of the child - are they being served by what we see?  If you had read the voluntary code of Practice on Paternity Testing you might think not!

Paternity testing can be a life changing event and where the situation is in dispute perhaps even more so, so to see it being played out in something akin to the “Jerry Springer show in print” is not one an ethical paternity testing company likes to see.