22 votes

‘Something happened, somehow something got mixed up’: the at-home DNA test that changed two families for ever

2 comments

  1. [2]
    ChingShih
    Link
    This is a long read and it goes more or less how you expect. It's really not about the science of the situation, so I'm posting it here in ~life and I'm not sure if that's right, but it was a...

    This is a long read and it goes more or less how you expect. It's really not about the science of the situation, so I'm posting it here in ~life and I'm not sure if that's right, but it was a fascinating read to me because of all the things that went right to have a wholesome outcome from this situation.

    From the fairly limited details, it seems like the parenting was pretty good and all the adults involved were reasonable to one another. The parents of each family sat down and talked things out over time, then presented this information to their kids; the kids were raised in a way where they were able to take this in stride; the parents of each family sat down and talked things out with the other family; and there weren't a bunch of lawsuits being thrown around regarding the DNA tests, paternity/maternity, and so on.

    I would've liked to have known more about exactly how frequently this has been reported (in Utah or nationally), how frequently it's actually expected to have happened (I wonder if 23andMe has info on this based on suppositions from DNA testing), and what organizations may or may not be regulating the companies performing in vitro fertilization (IVF). I'm also curious what percentage of these incidents lead to a lawsuit or settlement and how parents react when they're informed that one (or potentially both?) partner is not genetically related to their child. Since these parents have gone through a lot of private discussion about their fertility and desire for children, and have been vulnerable with each other and their health professionals, has that improved their outcomes when dealing with unexpected situations or their relationship in general? It seems like it must.

    Wikipedia has a great article on IVF and the process.

    8 votes
    1. Turtle42
      Link Parent
      I just listened to The NY Times podcast “The Retrievals” which was not about swapped DNA but instead a nurse at the clinic who was stealing painkillers and replacing it with saline, causing...

      I just listened to The NY Times podcast “The Retrievals” which was not about swapped DNA but instead a nurse at the clinic who was stealing painkillers and replacing it with saline, causing immense pain for a large number women getting eggs retrieved who effectively told at the time that their pain wasn't real, until the nurse was eventually discovered.

      The main theme was echoed in this quote from the article:

      “This happened in a medical field you put so much trust in. You’re so vulnerable...”

      This isn't just an eye exam or another routine medical procedure. These are vulnerable human beings coming to you desperate time of need trying to fulfill what many people believe to be their purpose on this earth. Truly makes you wonder how often this happens.

      6 votes