Consent
Although it is not illegal at the present time, the testing of minor children without the consent of their mother or legal guardian raises ethical problems. These ethical problems are threefold: there is a concern that a test should not be performed on a child without appropriate consent because the test may result in hardship or an adverse outcome for the child; there is a concern that non-biological and non-social fathers may be supporting a child that they are not responsible for; and there is a concern that non-ethical and non accredited laboratory services may perform paternity tests that do not have legal standing.
In line with the recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission Report Essentially Yours: The Protection of Human Genetic Information in Australia for the Ethical Testing of Genetic Material, it is the policy of Sonic Clinical Institute to obtain the consent of the mother or legal guardian before a minor child may be tested. Where consent is not granted, the putative father may obtain a court order. It is also the policy of this laboratory to perform all testing to the highest ethical, scientific and legal standards so that if the results have legal implications, they will be admissible to the Family Court, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and the Registries of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
By conducting all testing to these standards, we overcome the need for repeat testing should a result be required for legal reasons at a later time, thereby minimising the emotional and financial impact of unaccredited testing.