You are Not the Father

[VaughanJB]

Apparently, a third of all paternity tests show that the "father" is no such thing. Along with this, it is estimated 11% of all births if tested, would reveal the "father" was not actually, the father.

So the question is, would you be in favor of mandatory testing for all newborns?

 

[VisualBrian]

I'm not in favor of most anything being mandatory, but that aside, it would probably result in even more children growing up without a male role model.

 

[jujube]

I'm not sure it would do much good. It would be devastating if the putative father wasn't the father and I'm sure it wouldn't do much good if it were proved that somebody else was. In most cases, it would be unlikely that the "real" father would step up and do his manly duty or provide financial support for the child.

 

[gruntlabor]

I read somewhere that at the beginning of DNA testing for paternity, a scientist took DNA from newborns at hospital and from the fathers. He was gobsmacked to learn that ten percent of the fathers were not the fathers.

 

[Paco Dennis]

 

[Pepper]

So the question is, would you be in favor of mandatory testing for all newborns?

For what purpose? DNA paternity testing is available for those who WANT it. I don't understand the nature of your question.

 

[Murrmurr]

For what purpose? DNA paternity testing is available for those who WANT it. I don't understand the nature of your question.

I agree. I see no purpose in making paternity tests mandatory.

People seem to forget that making anything mandatory by law costs taxpayers millions.

 

[gruntlabor]

I agree. I see no purpose in making paternity tests mandatory.

People seem to forget that making anything mandatory by law costs taxpayers millions.

Plus anything mandatory is not consistent with American values.

 

[Murrmurr]

Plus anything mandatory is not consistent with American values.

Well, aside from abiding by state and federal laws. But there was a time when America was known for not having frivolous laws that interfered with its people's right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Mandatory paternity tests on every newborn would def fall under the category of frivolous laws.

 

[Manatee]

Vasectomy changes sex from procreational to recreational.

 

[Trade]

 

[davey]

a child is a child is a child that's wot matters?

 

[Paco Dennis]

Vasectomy changes sex from procreational to recreational.

Exactly.

 

[George1959]

It's problematic, even if there is a suspicion of adultery of the wife. If the husband demands the test and he is not the father, he may leave his wife. If he is the father she may leave him.

 

[Nathan]

Apparently, a third of all paternity tests show that the "father" is no such thing. Along with this, it is estimated 11% of all births if tested, would reveal the "father" was not actually, the father.

So the question is, would you be in favor of mandatory testing for all newborns?

What would be the point? Paternity issues would civil, for determining child support / child custody.

 

[Murrmurr]

What would be the point? Paternity issues would civil, for determining child support / child custody.

I wonder if the point is to save money on AFDC benefits. If the real father is working (and the mother is not married), he could be ordered to pay child support and medical insurance.

 

[Nathan]

I wonder if the point is to save money on AFDC benefits. If the real father is working (and the mother is not married), he could be ordered to pay child support and medical insurance.

Father's are ordered to pay child support already, paternity being established on a case by case basis, particularly if the father disputes the paternal connection. In some cases a non-paternal parent can be ordered to pay child support for a child who is not blood related, if they lived in a household together.

In California, biological parentage does not play as big of a role in determining child support as legal parentage does. A legal parent has both the legal rights and legal obligations that come with raising a child, even if that parent is not the biological parent. yanezlaw

 

[ohioboy]

No need for DNA testing for newborns. In Ohio, a Paternity suit can be filed until the child turns 23. When a woman bears a child, the presumption is, the husband is the Father. Any man can challenge such if they dispute a parental obligation.

 

[Brookswood]

Those darn gene tests have blown the cover off the “Males do most of the cheating“ lie.

 

[JBR]

Apparently, a third of all paternity tests show that the "father" is no such thing. Along with this, it is estimated 11% of all births if tested, would reveal the "father" was not actually, the father.

So the question is, would you be in favor of mandatory testing for all newborns?

What nation are these stats from?

 

[fuzzybuddy]

I think there's a difference between a sperm doner and father. One is in a child's world for a few minutes, and the other, for a lifetime.
This thread reminds me of my Navy days. Guys, who have been away at sea, would show pics of their kids, the third one never looked like their "dad".

 

[Brookswood]

I think there's a difference between a sperm doner and father. One is in a child's world for a few minutes, and the other, for a lifetime.

Adoptive parents have known that for thousands of years.

 

[MarkinPhx]

I'm not for it at all. Along with the reasons that have already been listed , although unlikely, it could leave the door open for the government to take measures against the mother if the baby is not her husbands. I admit that sounds drastic and unlikely but I would hate to have that scenario to even be a possibility in the future.

 

[StarSong]

It's problematic, even if there is a suspicion of adultery of the wife. If the husband demands the test and he is not the father, he may leave his wife. If he is the father she may leave him.

Amen to this. If partners in long-term, committed relationships feel the need to run paternity tests, infidelity suspicions are merely a symptoms of larger problems.

 

[StarSong]

I'm not for it at all. Along with the reasons that have already been listed , although unlikely, it could leave the door open for the government to take measures against the mother if the baby is not her husbands. I admit that sounds drastic and unlikely but I would hate to have that scenario to even be a possibility in the future.

The way things are heading in this country, I wouldn't doubt that eventuality.