True North

From today's Star Tribune - Letters to the Editor

DNA PRIVACY
Government intrusion
How ironic. The same day Twila Brase reports that Minnesota legislators gutted the 2006 Genetic Privacy Law for the state Newborn Screening Program ("Genetic information deserves protection," April 29), the Star Tribune prints a story on government mishandling and failing to protect sensitive data.

Newborn babies in Minnesota are not guinea pigs, and government has no business collecting citizens' cradle-to-grave blood, tissue samples, DNA or medical records. Many oppose genetic research as a violation of ethical, moral, cultural or religious values and beliefs.

Patient consent is our only protection against access and control of our private data. Empowering our newborn babies, and all patients, with true written consent protects individual liberty as well as our privacy and DNA property rights. Good intentions aside, medical ethics and written informed patient consent must supersede all state access of our private medical data.

SUE JEFFERS, NEW BRIGHTON