Wednesday, January 03, 2007

VA Collecting DNA?

The VA is embarking on an ambitious program which will attempt to get DNA information from veterans which they will then tie in to the veterans' medical records for "research" purposes.

Sounds okay, but only if -- and that's a BIG IF -- the purpose is to do research into such things as the genetic causes of disease and the development of treatments.

But let's face it, the VA does not have the best reputation when it comes to safeguarding personal privacy, and I am not at all willing to give up my DNA when I don't know -- and can't be guaranteed -- that it won't fall into the wrong hands. The wrong hands being my health insurance company, the cops or drug companies, just for starters.

So the next time you go to the VA medical center, if they ask you for a DNA sample, do what I'm going to do -- tell 'em you'll leave one on your way out with that cute blonde receptionist at the front desk...

2 Comments:

Anonymous said...

Well you might enjoy how you left the DNA but you can bet they would still collect it and store it away. And yes your insurance company has the right to information about it.

Anonymous said...

"But let's face it, the VA does not have the best reputation when it comes to safeguarding personal privacy, and I am not at all willing to give up my DNA when I don't know -- and can't be guaranteed -- that it won't fall into the wrong hands. The wrong hands being my health insurance company, the cops or drug companies, just for starters."

FYI you no longer have any personal privacy compliments of the 'war on terror'; not only that you no longer have any right to face your accusers,thanks to the 'Patriot Act'.

Warrantless wiretaping, warrentless home invasion, transparent private medical records,in short you no longer have any rights as defined in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Private and Government agency's are busy collection every bit of data on Americans. Hitler used the burning of the Reichstag, the neo-con thugs used the 'war on terror' to shred the Constitution. Welcome to '1984'. War is Peace, Love is Hate,freedom is slavery...

UH1Charlie