Identigene Raises Awareness of Paternity Fraud in America

Submitted by Matt on Wed, 2012-11-07 01:48

Press release here. Admittedly, this is a press release from a commercial entity. (Everyone's always trying to see you something. *sigh*) Anyway, if you can ignore that much for now, the meat of the text is worth reading. Excerpt:

'Identigene, maker of the only DNA paternity test available in drugstores and supercenters, is working to increase awareness of paternity fraud in America. Paternity fraud occurs when a woman allows a man to assume he is the biological father, even though he is not. It’s an issue with potentially serious consequences for everyone involved, from financial obligations to custody arrangements to emotional attachments.

The campaign to raise awareness of paternity fraud reached millions of people and was conducted through advertising, outreach to news organizations, social media, and the efforts of Dennis Fuller, a Dallas, Texas attorney who has championed this cause. “In my professional experience, the truth about paternity leads to a positive outcome for everyone involved,” Fuller says. Mr. Fuller provides the example of his client, Barry Wallace. Mr. Wallace was sentenced to prison for nonpayment of child support. His wife sought legal assistance and DNA testing, eventually proving paternity fraud and freeing her husband from jail. The mother of the little girl had a brief encounter with Wallace and had for years wanted to stop the child support, enabling her husband to officially adopt the little girl and assume financial obligation. Disestablishing paternity was a positive for all parties. See more of Mr. Wallace’s personal story on YouTube.

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Comments

I think society could implement some policies to help stop paternity fraud as people realize kids do better and have rights regarding true and factual birth certificates. Some of my ideas may not be practical yet, but as technology, communication, and associated costs improve we should be getting closer:

Make mothers have a legal responsibility to disclose pregnancy to potential fathers. Abolish all laws regarding husband as automatically the legal father. Make paternity tests routine at birth. Babies born with "father unknown" should be inhibited by putting pressure on the mother to disclose or search for father and/or an agency should take and store DNA info from baby and make it easier for potential father to come forward. No penalties for fathers who have not been informed and more policies in place to support father's rights.

Currently in the ghetto, many parents purposely list "father unknown" on birth certificates so the mother can collect welfare without putting any financial responsibility onto the father. This needs to stop so children have accurate birth certificates. Perhaps if biological fathers were given some incentives (free education, help with housing, etc) or have a chance at full custody with child support paid to them, they would then demand to be on the birth certificates (likely would inhibit single parenthood in the first place if mother knew she may not get custody) .

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Submitted by Kris on Wed, 2012-11-07 22:11