The Student Room Group

Should paternity testing be compulsory in the UK?

I am surprised this hasn't become the standard procedure yet.

Two stories with a 10 year gap. From highly respected sources.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4137506.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/fatherhood/one-in-50-british-fathers-unknowingly-raise-another-mans-child/


So why for goodness sake has nothing been done yet?

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Reply 1
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ChrisW99
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Smh why cant people be faithful in relationships?
No more respect nowadays
Reply 3
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user382
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Testing for every new born baby should be mandatory.

It’s quite disgusting that a civilised society doesn’t feel men have the right to know with complete certainty that a child is theirs. It is such a simple thing that could save plenty of hurt and wasted lives.
Reply 4
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ChrisW99
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Original post by glad-he-ate-her
Smh why cant people be faithful in relationships?
No more respect nowadays



Agree. It's awful. And heart breaking that men waste their lives raising offspring that are not their own.
Reply 5
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ChrisW99
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Original post by stefano865
Testing for every new born baby should be mandatory.

It’s quite disgusting that a civilised society doesn’t feel men have the right to know with complete certainty that a child is theirs. It is such a simple thing that could save plenty of hurt and wasted lives.



Completely agree. I wonder why governments have been so reluctant to tackle this issue.
Original post by stefano865
Testing for every new born baby should be mandatory.

It’s quite disgusting that a civilised society doesn’t feel men have the right to know with complete certainty that a child is theirs. It is such a simple thing that could save plenty of hurt and wasted lives.


Or people could stay faithful within their relationships?

Nah i agree tho, the costs outweigh the mental damage of raising a kid for 10 years to find out he is not yours, i read up on a few of these stories yesterday, upsetting

http://www.knowable.com/a/t1/fathers-who-found-out-their-child-wasnt-theirs-share-the-aftermath
Reply 7
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user382
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Original post by glad-he-ate-her
Or people could stay faithful within their relationships?

Nah i agree tho, the costs outweigh the mental damage of raising a kid for 10 years to find out he is not yours, i read up on a few of these stories yesterday, upsetting

http://www.knowable.com/a/t1/fathers-who-found-out-their-child-wasnt-theirs-share-the-aftermath




Sad story.

People staying faithful would of course be ideal.

Women will always know for sure and I feel men deserve the same.
Reply 8
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user382
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Original post by ChrisW99
Completely agree. I wonder why governments have been so reluctant to tackle this issue.



Because ultimately the government wants to keep families together and children to be provided for. They couldn't care less if it is the biological father or not.
Reply 9
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Lxxa14
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To quote Kanye west: "18 years, 18 years and on her 18th birthday he found out it wasn't his"

I agree some what. However I don't think it should be compulsory but if the guy wants it done it he should be allowed. But only after the baby has been born as they have to insert a massive needle into pregnant ladies if they want to find out before then, which can in some cases cases cause a miscarriage.
Original post by ChrisW99
I am surprised this hasn't become the standard procedure yet.

Two stories with a 10 year gap. From highly respected sources.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4137506.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/fatherhood/one-in-50-british-fathers-unknowingly-raise-another-mans-child/


So why for goodness sake has nothing been done yet?


Why should it not be his own responsibility ? They can recommend it once the baby is born, but I don't necessarily think it should be mandatory.
Original post by lonyeka
To quote Kanye west: "18 years, 18 years and on her 18th birthday he found out it wasn't his"

I agree some what. However I don't think it should be compulsory but if the guy wants it done it he should be allowed. But only after the baby has been born as they have to insert a massive needle into pregnant ladies if they want to find out before then, which can in some cases cases cause a miscarriage.



Well that's the difficult part.

You get the most accurate result with DNA from both parents. In France and Germany i think it is illegal to do a test unofficially without the mother's agreement.

It is difficult for men to raise this subject with wives/partners because of the implications of course.

Also would girls like it if it was done behind their backs?

Making it compulsory would remove these issues.
Original post by ChrisW99
I am surprised this hasn't become the standard procedure yet.

Two stories with a 10 year gap. From highly respected sources.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4137506.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/fatherhood/one-in-50-british-fathers-unknowingly-raise-another-mans-child/


So why for goodness sake has nothing been done yet?


Moved to Society

And how much is this going to cost? So you're going to have thousands of babies born every year and (I'm making up numbers) 99% of men know the baby is theirs. Why on earth does a test need to be performed (which is going to cost money) just to prove something they already know?
Reply 13
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ChrisW99
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Original post by cherryred90s
Why should it not be his own responsibility ? They can recommend it once the baby is born, but I don't necessarily think it should be mandatory.



How about making it women's responsiblity too to actually know who the father of their baby is.

Why on earth would somebody think it shouldn't be mandatory. So you don't have to take any responsibility for your actions?
Reply 14
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ChrisW99
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Original post by Tiger Rag
Moved to Society

And how much is this going to cost? So you're going to have thousands of babies born every year and (I'm making up numbers) 99% of men know the baby is theirs. Why on earth does a test need to be performed (which is going to cost money) just to prove something they already know?



Thanks.

No! Men never know for certain the baby is theirs without a test. An indisputable fact.
Original post by ChrisW99
How about making it women's responsiblity too to actually know who the father of their baby is.

Why on earth would somebody think it shouldn't be mandatory. So you don't have to take any responsibility for your actions?


These things cost money, so they should pay for it themselves, especially since it's a very low percentage of men who unknowingly raise children that aren't theirs
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by ChrisW99
Thanks.

No! Men never know for certain the baby is theirs without a test. An indisputable fact.


Even if the child is the spitting image of them?
Original post by ChrisW99
How about making it women's responsiblity too to actually know who the father of their baby is.

Why on earth would somebody think it shouldn't be mandatory. So you don't have to take any responsibility for your actions?


That is a biology problem though, mixed with widespread infidelity, if you can stop the infidelity then youve solved your problem
Original post by Tiger Rag
Moved to Society

And how much is this going to cost? So you're going to have thousands of babies born every year and (I'm making up numbers) 99% of men know the baby is theirs. Why on earth does a test need to be performed (which is going to cost money) just to prove something they already know?



Why do men not deserve the same certainty that women have?
Original post by Tiger Rag
Even if the child is the spitting image of them?


Read #1 on the link i posted above

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