Where is Your Data? This is the old site

The story below is taken directly from the Vietnamese News Agency  – VeitNam News. The lack of commentary or protest is as concerning as the DNA cards themselves.

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HA NOI — People suffering from hereditary diseases may benefit from a DNA-testing programme that Viet Nam plans to introduce by 2010.

The programme, implemented by the Ha Noi-based Centre for Genetic Analysis and Technologies, would include ‘DNA cards’ that help in early detection of 10 of the most common hereditary diseases, said Le Dinh Luong, the centre founder and president of the Viet Nam Genetics Society.

“Each hereditary disease is a sign of one or more errors in DNA,” said Luong. “Today’s genetics technology can find these errors in each person, and warn them of the potential that they may acquire a certain disease.”

Luong said the programme would include personal DNA cards, which would be made following medical tests on patients. These cards will include advice on treatment and how to prevent or slow down diseases.

“DNA disease detection cards could be personalised to find remedies for each disease and each person,” said Luong.

“The final aim is to give an early diagnosis and improve prevention to boost living standards and longevity.”

The cards could even be used for three-month-old children in the womb. Obstetric experts said at this early period, doctors could take necessary intervention measures for disease treatment

A DNA disease detection card is expected to cost US$1,000. However, Luong said the cost would quickly drop as new technology becomes available. A similar fall in costs had occurred with Viet Nam’s DNA identity card. Luong said current DNA identity cards cost about VND3 million ($187), 180 times cheaper than initially thought.

“DNA cards have become popular around the world, proving their obvious value,” said Luong

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Which other countires have DNA Cards?

During the Omagh trial the evidence from Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA was lambasted by Mr Justice Weir who said that the methoed of gathering was potentially unreliable and lacking validity.

Following this, in December 2007, the CPS immediately announced a review of the use of LCN  DNA, and the police said they would be halting the use of this technique, stating “an interim suspension of the use of LCN DNA testing service offered by the Forensic Science Service for future investigations”

In January 2008 a review of LCN DNA was completed by the CPS and they recommended the continue use of it.

Stephen House, the chief constable of Strathclyde has asked for the DNA of innocent people to be put on the Scottish DNA database. While this may sound like a ‘crazy Orwellian’ plan, the same system has been running in England for the past 9 years. Currently in the England the police can take DNA, after arrest and retain it, even if the individual has been found innocent, or never charged. However, Stratchclye police have since stated this was a misquote.

But its not the only time Scottish police have been called for extended powers: In 2005 the the deputy chief constable of Tayside police, Ian Gordon,  last called for new Scottish powers to allow an individual’s DNA sample to be retained on a national database, regardless of even if they have been convicted. Full Article

As the Scottish Government is currently discussing retaining DNA of children it seems likely that Stephen House was not entirely misquoted.

Scotland, whose DNA Database is far smaller than England’s (200,000 versus 4.2 million), is looking to increase the size of is database by changing the law to allow the storage of DNA from children convicted of serious crimes.

While the Scottish government is discussing only doing this for children convicted of serious offences, and for a limited time period it has been shown time and time again in England that once a law and power has been created, the government often extend its range and scope.

In fact just recently a senior Scottish police officer, has called for powers that allow the DNA of convicted and un-convicted people are collected.

This is despite the fact that a huge increase in database size does not increase the likelihood of detection, an increase in collection of samples at crime scene does, but increasing the amount of DNA on the database only has a limited effect.