Posted on 08/11/2005 12:40:55 PM PDT by summer
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Perhaps one out of every 25 dads could unknowingly be raising another man's child, a finding that has huge health and social implications, according to report released Wednesday.
Exposing so-called paternal discrepancy -- when a child is identified as being biologically fathered by someone other than the man who believes he is the father -- could lead to family violence and the breakup of many families. On the other hand, leaving paternal discrepancy hidden means having the wrong genetic information, which could have health consequences.
A UK-based research team reviewed scientific research dealing with paternity published between 1950 and 2004 and reports that rates of paternal discrepancy range from less than 1 percent to as much as 30 percent.
The investigation also showed that becoming pregnant at a younger age, low socioeconomic status, and being in a long-term relationship rather than being married seem to be linked to greater likelihood of paternal discrepancy.
It is generally believed that rates of paternal discrepancy are less than 10 percent. A paternal discrepancy rate of 4 percent means that one in 25 families could be affected.
However, soaring rates of paternity testing in North America and Europe means more cases of paternal discrepancy will be identified in the years ahead, Professor Mark A. Bellis, from the Center for Public Health at the Liverpool John Moores University, and colleagues point out in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
In the United States, for example, rates of paternity testing more than doubled between 1991 and 2001. The increasing use of genetic testing for diagnosis and treatment of disease as well as in judicial procedures will also yield more opportunities to uncover cases where a father, unbeknownst to him, is not the biological parent.
"Modern genetic techniques continue to open a Pandora's box on hitherto hidden aspects of human sexual behavior," the investigators write.
Exposing such situations will inevitably affect not only deceived dads but also their family and potentially the biological father. Leaving paternal discrepancy undiagnosed, on the other hand, leaves those affected with incorrect genetic information that could prove harmful.
What's urgently needed, the authors say, is guidance on how and when paternal discrepancy should be exposed.
At present, most cases that are inadvertently identified are ignored by whoever uncovers the situation.
"However, in a society where services and life decisions are increasingly influenced by genetics, our approach to paternal discrepancy cannot be simply to ignore this difficult issue but must be informed by what best protects the health of those affected," Bellis and colleagues argue.
Bill Cosby made some not-so-funny remarks about inner city people needing DNA cards to make sure they're not screwing with their siblings.
No, just make it another of the tests that is done in the hospital by law, and have the information appear on the birth certificate.
Don't hide it, or make it a private matter, that's part of the problem.
Put it out there in the open for all to see and remove another refuge for the unfaithfull wife.
Blood tests before marriage could become popular again, but not for STD's - for family trees. I know my oldest brother is adopted and he insisted for this very reason.
Real father is man who rasies the children regardless of the genetics.
I grew up with a kid that looked like the postman, and his brother just like the milkman ...
Gives new meaning to spreading the risk...
Where did that statistic come from?
Not leaving your home town does not make accidental incest more likely. It actually makes it less likely, because you know your own town, (if its small).
Most people know who their relatives are, but not these "mis-fatherd" children.
Last statistics available put it at 70%.
"Real father is man who rasies the children regardless of the genetics."
Amen. Dr. Seuss said it best in "Horton Hatches the Egg"
To quote him "and it should be like that, because Horton was faithful he sat and he sat..."
John Singleton illustrated it poignantly in "Boys in the Hood" - absent a father, a man has little direction.
Agree. And any guy cuckolded should divorce his wife on grounds of adultery and get custody of the child.
Only becasue it already has.
The father is the mother's husband. That has been the law for centuries and still is and should be.
That society has fallen apart (all sorts of unwed mothers) and refusal to take responsibility on the part of men (impregnating women who are not their wives or whom they do not marry) would cause the problem.
If you are married to a woman, her children are yours no matter if the biological progenitor is another man.
But we no longer believe in marriage or responsibilty for male heads of houselds.
And your point is their dad held two jobs?
I would say his grudge is misplaced.
It's not. Our civilization, which the liberals have set out to destroy, worked well in that a male had responsibility for his family and his children were those given birth to by his wife -- period.
Liberal racism and belief in genetic destiny over spiritual committment and relations, seen in all the liberal racism around, has made these things issues.
Momma's baby, Poppa's maybe....
I fear even on a "conservative web site" we are only voices in a wilderness.
You forgot one the precursor - is he good enough to bring home to my parents?
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