CDR: Re: why should it be trusted?

[Tim May]

At 3:05 PM -0400 10/18/00, jim bell wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>X-Loop: openpgp.net
>From: David Honig <honig at 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
-- 
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Timothy C. May              | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
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