Mandatory Paternity Testing
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By Jeremy Eugene Reed in General Published: Saturday, 08 March 08 - 07:51 PM (GMT) |
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Here’s a great news story. (Read it here.) This politician simply makes sense. We have discussed on this blog before how damaging cases of paternity fraud can be, and a law such as this would certainly reduce the incidence of paternity fraud. (If you haven’t read the article, State Rep G.A. Hardaway is promoting a bill that would require a paternity test for all fathers before their name is placed on the birth certificate.) In my eyes, a bill such as this makes good sense, and could end what I see as a significant issue.
But there is dissent. "I think it's a real affront to women to say that every baby born has to have a paternity test." says State Rep Sherry Jones. I submit that the affront to women is much less than the affront to a man who learns that he is financially responsible for another man’s child for the next couple of decades. While I can appreciate that this type of legislation is an affront to a woman’s right to privacy, the right to privacy must be weighed against the rights of others who may suffer as you exercise your own personal privacy. Yes, it is true that forcing all women to prove whom the father of their child is seems to call into question the character of the woman. However, there are too many incidents to be ignored that suggest that for at least some women, that character needs to be questioned. The reason that I like this law is that it applies the same standard to everyone-so no one’s character is being questioned, it is just a part of getting the document you want. If a law like this were passed, it would eventually be like taking an eye exam to receive your driver’s license-a little intrusive, but the safety gained by having only people who can see drive far outweighs the intrusiveness of the state testing you. The same would be true here. The benefit of protecting fathers and children would far outweigh the intrusiveness of requiring a paternity test. (I recognize that this is not a perfect parallel, but you get my point.)
I will follow this story with interest, and look forward to your comments.
12 Comments so far: |
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| Interesting | Matthew Kring | 03/13/08 |
| I will try and find the proposed languag (...) | Jeremy Reed | 03/14/08 |
| What If.... | Zach Kring | 03/15/08 |
| What if....? | Jeremy Reed | 03/17/08 |
| Paternity Test Opt Out | Greg Deegan | 03/31/08 |
| Opt Out | Jeremy Reed | 03/31/08 |
| I really feel the statistics being 10% i (...) | John Elliott | 12/09/08 |
| paternity testing | Vie | 05/06/09 |
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Top | Reply to this Title: Interesting Author: Matthew Kring Date Posted: 13 Mar 2008 06:22 PM (GMT) On the flip side, if a man refused to be tested would this be a way to neglect and forego his paternal duties? |
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Top | Reply to this Author: Jeremy Reed (http://mrmensrights.terapad.com/) Date Posted: 14 Mar 2008 06:12 PM (GMT) I will try and find the proposed language of the law, but frankly, I think that he would not be able to refuse-my guess is that the law will state that paternity testing is required, but if the male refuses to be tested after the woman names him as the father, then he would be entered as the father. Very good question, I will try to get a more concrete answer. |
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Top | Reply to this Title: What If.... Author: Zach Kring Date Posted: 15 Mar 2008 06:14 PM (GMT) So could/would be father #1 turns out not to be the father then the mother would have to supply more names? I think a few womens rights groups would lose their lunch with the prospect of pregnant women having to supply the government with a list of men she has slept with and could possibly be the father of the child. This article makes me wonder though, how often does this happen because just like fathers leaving to "protect" themselves from whatever ills they feel will fall on them from being a parent, a woman may take measures to try and ensure that the man she says is the father is lead to believe that and this law would protect everyone involved from a life of missleading information. Another question - Can the mother opt not to have a fathers name on a birth certificate as a way of circumventing the law and having to release names? |
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Top | Reply to this Title: What if....? Author: Jeremy Reed (http://mrmensrights.terapad.com/) Date Posted: 17 Mar 2008 04:28 PM (GMT) So I think (although I have no reason to know this, just my thoughts on the matter)-I think that the woman probably could opt out of putting a fathers name on the birht certificate (As they can now). This brings up some interesting questions, though. If she does opt out, should the father later be "surprised" that he has a child. The state of the law now is that yes, it is ok to "surprise" him.The solution in my mind to this problem is to put a limitation on how long mothers have to name a father-they are the only person in the world who could possibly know who the father is. This solution has its own problems, though. Since child support is the right of the child, the mothers unilateral act (not naming the father) would not be allowed to abrogate the childs rights. This is a tough issue in family law-often the interest of the child and the interest of the mother are the same, and the father is left to be told what his responsibilities are at a time and place of the mothers choosing. (I understand that this scenario is not the most common-but it does happen, and so is worth talking about.) |
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Top | Reply to this Title: Paternity Test Opt Out Author: Greg Deegan Date Posted: 31 Mar 2008 08:28 PM (GMT) In TN it is my understanding that if the mother does not name a father (if she is on or will receive state aid) "her" benefits will be reduced but not the child's. This Sunday TN DHS's article in the Tennessean showed statistics of dna by the state that in welfare cases setting child support that 27% of named fathers were not the biological.Additionally they made the statement that 1 0f 10 fathers in tn are not the biological father. |
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Top | Reply to this Title: Opt Out Author: Jeremy Reed (http://mrmensrights.terapad.com/) Date Posted: 31 Mar 2008 09:55 PM (GMT) Greg, thanks for your comments. Sadly, the 10% number does not surprise me. The way that the system is designed gives the mother extraordinary power, and because she is the only party that always has complete information (about potential fathers, anyway), she can wield the power in a way that is most advantageous to her. This is not what always happens, but it happens sometimes, and that is frankly too often. I hope to see more comments from you in the future. |
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Top | Reply to this Author: John Elliott Date Posted: 09 Dec 2008 12:49 AM (GMT) I really feel the statistics being 10% is a low number. I've heard so many stories like this I got a vasectomy and then decided that even "dating" isn't worth it. I've never been happier, and I don't feel lonely. It cracks me up when I get asked out, and I say I don't date. It's always the same response: You're gay, you're lonely, or someone must have really broken your heart. LOL sorry none of the above. |
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Top | Reply to this Title: paternity testing Author: Vie (http://www.mypregnancysigns.com/paternity-testing) Date Posted: 06 May 2009 11:36 AM (GMT) I think it's very ineteresting site.....Especially for ummarried woman that have a pregnancy...... |
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Top | Reply to this Title: paternity testing Author: May Henderson Date Posted: 08 Jun 2009 07:47 PM (GMT) i am a grandmother to a 11 yo. My son and i had a court date for a paternity test. the judge denied him. the mother allowed another man to place his name on the birth certificate and we are no longer allowed in this childs life.the mothers sister is the guardian and she to will not let us see the child, however the man that signed the certificate knows that he is not the father and is going for adoption. how can we get the state to order paternity testing. we have an attorney. |
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Top | Reply to this Author: find reputable online casino for roulette (http://www.reputable-roulette.com) Date Posted: 06 Jul 2009 01:58 PM (GMT) This article makes me wonder though, how often does this happen because just like fathers leaving to "protect" themselves from whatever ills they feel will fall on them from being a parent, a woman may take measures to try and ensure that the man she says is the father is lead to believe that and this law would protect everyone involved from a life of missleading information. |
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Top | Reply to this Title: No chance... Author: Moses Date Posted: 30 Jul 2009 08:58 PM (GMT) The chance of this law getting passed is zero. |
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