Putting the Child First When Answering Paternity Questions
Hi. I’m psychiatrist Dr. Janet Taylor. Questions about paternity are more common than you might think. One in five Americans say they, or a close friend or family member, have questioned paternity.
Even so, many people have a hard time addressing the issue. You might be afraid to admit that there is uncertainty surrounding the paternity of your child. Or you might wonder how your partner will react to inquiring about the child’s paternity. These are all legitimate feelings.
Communication is so important. I’d like to offer a few guidelines for healthy conversations about paternity questions.
Step 1: Set aside time to talk.
Set a time in advance to discuss your paternity questions. Make sure the conversation’s private and that you’re both free from distractions or interruptions.
Step 2: Establish the purpose of the conversation.
From the start, be open and honest about your reasons for seeking paternity answers: to put the best interests of the child first.
Step 3: Lay one key ground rule.
Agree to respect the paternity test results, no matter the outcome.
Step 4: Keep the lines of communication open.
Talk about what you both expect to do, whether the test result is positive or negative. And be sure to engage in healthy, respectful conversation throughout the process.
*Blog written by Dr. Janet Taylor, IDENTIGENE Spokesperson and Community Psychiatrist.
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ida housand says
what if the suspected father is unavailable for testing or isn’t willing to do the test can a relative of the suspected father dna be used and how much and who would be used
Identigene says
Hi Ida,
If the father is unavailable for testing, a first degree relative or relatives of the father can be used to help determine paternity. This is called a family reconstruction. We advise that you call our friendly client support staff at 1-888-404-GENE to best determine which relatives are available for testing and which test would most likely give you conclusive results. They will be able to answer any other questions you may have. Thank you for choosing Identigene!