At 3:05 PM -0400 10/18/00, jim bell wrote:
----- Original Message ----- X-Loop: openpgp.net From: David Honig <honig@sprynet.com>
[forking the DNA discussion slightly]
On giving blood samples to police: I believe the supremes are going to hear a case about a hospital taking blood samples after delivery of a baby, running drug checks, and turning her over to the police immediately for child abuse.
I seem to recall a news item which indicated that the arguments for this case have already been made. The claim was made by the cops that it was to protect the fetus' health, to which one SC Justice (female; don't recall which one) responded by. in effect, saying that by the time the test was made (presumably, shortly before birth) the damage, if any, had already been done.
I think this practice will fail, for the predictable reasons.
I also heard coverage of this when it was being argued. The attorney for the woman also pointed out to the Court that the drug tests were not used to intervene AT THE TIME, so no possible causation issues were involved. The blood/drug test was done only FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROSECUTION. The authorities tested everyone, filed the results away, waited until the births had occurred, then filed drug charges. --Tim May -- ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, ComSec 3DES: 831-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, "Cyphernomicon" | black markets, collapse of governments.