Paternity Test Archives - Page 16 of 54

Who’s my Daddy? Talking to a Child about Paternity Testing: your Survey Results

by HOMEDNA on 08/24/2015

As a good parent, you want to be as honest as possible with your child. You talk to them about the importance of eating their vegetables, being kind and doing their best in school. But when it comes to approaching a very adult subject with them-like paternity testing-you may find yourself at a loss. When’s the right time? How much do they need to know? Should you even tell them that swabbing their cheek is part of a test to determine their biological father? Is this one time when you shouldn’t be honest?

Because these are commonly-asked and very important questions, we recently conducted an opinion survey with a small sampling of testing-kit customers. The survey’s purpose was to gather information on what, if anything, these parents shared with their minor children about the testing process.

The Survey-by the Numbers

45%	Respondents whose children were 1 year old or younger at the time of testing.
30%	Respondents with children ages 2-18 who *did not* discuss the purpose of the testing or the test results with their children.
77%	Respondents who think parents *should* talk about the purpose of the test with tweens (11-13 years) as well as older children, *before* they take the test.

To Tell the Truth-(or not)

Parents in the survey who opted to tell their kids they were participating in paternity testing all had one basic thing in common: a desire to be upfront with their children. Here’s a sampling:

~ I just told her we needed to make sure.

~ I suggested to [my daughter] she could expect to go through a bit of an emotional roller coaster-it’s a bit like mourning [the parental relationship she thought she had with her stepdad]. I told her no matter what, her bio dad would never want to replace the man she knows as dad.

~ My daughter and her bio dad took the test together and anxiously awaited the results. Because of talking about all the possibilities ahead of time, the [positive] news was well-received.

~ I told my child I want her to know the truth and be able to know who her real father is, whoever he may be.

~ Explain every step of the testing process, results, and real consequences of the results. Stay positive; don’t scare them. Be completely honest and transparent at an appropriate level. If they express fears, take the time to acknowledge those fears and give them truthful information. Kids are incredibly intuitive and resilient.

If, for whatever reason, parents choose not to tell the child about the purpose of paternity testing before using the kit, these suggestions were offered for telling kids why they are having their cheeks swabbed:

~ I would just tell her that we’re checking for medical problems in our family’s history.

~ I will tell him that taking this test is for medical reasons.

There’s no Absolute Right or Wrong

As the variety of responses in this survey shows, everyone has a valuable opinion, but there really isn’t any one-size-fits-all solution for every parent, child and circumstance. Whether or not to tell a child the real purpose of paternity testing is a highly-personal decision that depends on a unique combination of factors. For example:

The child’s age.
The child’s emotional maturity/stability.
The child is asking questions.
Family dynamic.
Whether or not the suspected bio dad is in her life and wants to be involved in her upbringing.
The risk of a medical condition that may have been inherited from the bio dad.

Ask!

The bottom line is, as parents we’d like to think we instinctively have all the answers for difficult situations, but sometimes even the most confident parents need a little help. Before making the decision whether or not you should talk about the purpose of DNA testing with your child, it’s a good idea to do some research. Here are some quick suggestions:

Learn more about the test and the positive effects it can have on your family.
Talk to friends or family members who have had testing done.
Join the conversation, ask questions, or just read and learn from online forums like these:

WhatToExpect.com

BabyCenter.com

MedHelp.org

Most importantly, keep in mind the results of this type of DNA test have the potential to be a real life-changer for everyone, and most especially for your child. Because every situation is unique, don’t rely solely on the internet or friends’ advice. Be sure to consult with experts such as your family doctor, school psychologist, or counselor who can give you the professional, unbiased opinions you need to make the wisest and most informed decisions for your family.

Got an opinion? Let your voice be heard and help other parents! Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! If you have questions about paternity tests or other DNA testing services, please contact our Client Support Center at 888-404-4363, Mon-Fri from 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern Time. Our friendly, expert representatives are ready and happy to help. Get answers anytime by visiting our Help Center.

5 Ways Paternity Tests Support Gender Equality

by HOMEDNA on 08/17/2015

Does a paternity test really stand to empower one gender more than the other? According to a popular and controversial article by Melanie McDonagh, paternity tests were devised to disrupt the balance of power between the sexes.

We believe that paternity tests actually help support gender equality by imparting the same knowledge to both members of the opposite sex. And while some may argue that they put either men or women in a position of disadvantage, we feel nothing could be farther from the truth.

Here are five ways we believe paternity tests promote equality between both men and women:

1. Paternity tests promote gender equality through certainty

According to the article by Melanie McDonagh: ‘For the entire course of human history, men have nursed profound, troubling doubts about the fundamental question of whether or not they were fathers to their own children; women, by contrast, usually enjoyed a reasonable level of certainty about the matter.’

True gender equality would require both men and women to share the same level of certainty. And when both sexes work together by each submitting DNA samples for a paternity test, they can rest easy knowing the test results will be all the more accurate.

2. Paternity testing provides a balance of power between the sexes

McDonagh also states in her article that ‘DNA tests are an anti-feminist appliance of science, a change in the balance of power between the sexes.’ This statement has caused an uproar in the feminist community.

Many women were upset by the statement because it paints a bleak portrait of women and suggests that knowing the father of the child is the entire basis of a woman’s power, which-as we all know-is not true.

Instead, paternity testing establishes a balance of power between the sexes, providing equal knowledge of parentage.

3. Paternity tests can hold fathers accountable

A primary way paternity tests assist and empower women is by giving them a way to prove a man is the father. In the case of taking a legal paternity test, it can even hold a man legally accountable for child support.

4. Both men and women deserve to know who their children are

McDonagh’s argument also suggests that knowing the father of the child is a privilege that belongs solely to women, which flies in the face of all aspects of gender equality.

All individuals, regardless of gender, deserve to know who their children are, and paternity testing can help facilitate that discovery. Moreover, children have the right to know their biological parents, and may actually require that knowledge for an accurate and complete medical history.

5. Men and women each stand to benefit from paternity testing

Another common argument that surfaces when discussing the effects paternity tests have on women is that men stand to benefit more than women through the process. This, too, is false.

As mentioned previously, paternity testing can assist women in proving their child’s paternity in court - a fact so important that some women fiercely advocate for mandatory DNA tests just to prevent alleged fathers from committing paternity fraud.

Similarly, paternity tests allow men to prove or disprove paternity and uphold their own rights as the father of a child.

In the meantime, people continue to make the case that paternity tests are a scientific advancement designed to oppress either sex. However, paternity testing can help both mothers and alleged fathers protect their rights, and more importantly, it can improve the child’s quality of life.

Do you think paternity tests support gender equality? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Sources McDonagh, Melanie. “Who’s the Daddy?” The Spectator, 23 Oct. 2010. Web. 31 July 2015.

A Shocking Proposal to Stop Paternity Fraud

by HOMEDNA on 06/29/2015

Statistics show that up to 30% of children have a different father than the one listed on their birth certificate (Bellis). Numbers like these that have been worrying families everywhere, especially fathers in recent years, calling for legislation to stop parents from committing paternity fraud.

What is paternity fraud?

Paternity fraud occurs when a mother or father deliberately and falsely claim a man is (or isn’t) the child’s biological father. Usually, false claims are made in hopes of collecting or avoiding child support payments, but it isn’t the only reason men and women have for committing paternity fraud. Sometimes mothers only suspect a man is not the father and would rather hold their family together than expose any infidelities or discourage a man from continuing to be her child’s primary male role model. And sometimes, men may tamper with DNA tests in order to avoid familial or financial responsibility.

According to research featured in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, rates for incidents of paternity fraud range anywhere between 0.8% to 30%, with a median of 3.7%, across the world (Bellis). While this number is relatively small, it does, in fact, happen and can have serious consequences and life long effects on not only the well-being of an individual child, but also the whole family.

No matter the reason for lying about a child’s biological father, it is considered as a form of fraud and can be brought into a court of law. In some states, as well as the entire United Kingdom, it can be charged as a criminal offense.

Activists propose mandatory paternity tests

To prevent women from committing paternity fraud, some people-primarily men’s rights activists-propose mandatory DNA testing at the moment a child is born. While a birth certificate is completed when a child is born, activists believe paternity testing should be required before a man can be listed as the father. Activists say such requirements would prevent the mother from lying, not only to the man, but also to her child.

Of course many women, too, have spoken out in favor of mandatory DNA tests to prevent men from committing paternity fraud. Sometimes, men attempt to cheat on DNA tests by submitting swabs from animals or a friend to ensure negative results. However, these attempts are detected in laboratories, and these fraudulent behaviors result in unnecessary costs for additional recollections and testing.

Due to the number of paternity fraud cases presented in court, new laws have been instituted to protect parental rights. Attempts have been made to include mandatory paternity tests as one of these new laws, but none have been passed.

Research confirms public-health consequences of paternity fraud, such as family breakup and violence (Bellis). Additionally, if paternity is left unverified, it leaves in question the child’s genetics, which could affect future medical treatment.

A case against mandatory paternity tests

While most people agree that no one should purposefully deceive a father, mother, or child who may have paternity questions, the shocking proposal to require mandatory paternity tests at birth has, generally, not been well-received by women.

Some women argue that mandatory DNA tests unfairly punish mothers who believe a man is, in fact, the biological father, and would ‘legitimize harmful suspicious attitudes of men during pregnancy’ (Hanson).

There is also the concern that DNA test results may not be accurate, or perhaps their child is one of the rare cases in which one person is born with two sets of DNA (also known as chimerism). Other cases have reported paternity discrepancies because of medical mistakes, such as ‘mix-ups of semen during artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization’ (Bellis).

That being said, many women say they would have no problem with a mandatory DNA test if their husband requested it and they do not see it as an act of distrust (Dean).

You can take a paternity test at any time

As this controversial debate continues, it is worth noting if there are any doubts about paternity, you can take a DNA test at any time, regardless of the child’s age. DNA tests are highly accurate and can help you establish paternity. A home DNA paternity test works well when there is an accepted level trust among the mother, father, and child and no concerns about possible paternity fraud. A legal paternity test, which requires an independent third-party to witness the sample collection, makes paternity fraud nearly impossible. If there’s any doubt about participants behaving honestly, legal paternity testing is probably the best choice.

What are your thoughts?

Do you think paternity tests at birth should be mandatory? Why or why not? Share in the comments below!

Sources

Bellis, Mark A., Karen Hughes, Sara Hughes, and John R. Ashton. “Measuring Paternal Discrepancy and Its Public Health Consequences.”Jech.bmj.com. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 22 June 2005. Web. 07 May 2015.

Dean, Brooke. “You Are NOT The Father! Should Mandatory Paternity Testing At Birth Be The New “Norm?”” MadameNoire RSS. N.p., 22 Dec. 2013. Web. 18 May 2015.

Hanson, Robin. “Require Baby Paternity Test.” Overcoming Bias. N.p., 22 Nov. 2009. Web. 07 May 2015.

The Survey-by the Numbers

To Tell the Truth-(or not)