NCJ Number
60955
Journal
Medicine, Science and the Law Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 165-169
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A CASE IN WHICH MASS PATERNITY TESTING WAS CONDUCTED, USING BLOOD GROUP STUDIES OF 36 MEN SUSPECTED OF IMPREGNATING A 16-YEAR-OLD MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PATIENT, IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE CRIME VICTIM WAS AN IMBECILE, UNABLE TO WALK, SPEAK, OR FEED HERSELF. SHE WAS DOUBLY INCONTINENT AND HAD RESIDED IN A GOVERNMENT RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTION IN GREAT BRITAIN SINCE INFANCY. IN MAY, 1975, A LOCAL GYNECOLOGIST CONFIRMED THE PATIENT'S PREGNANCY AND ESTIMATED IT TO BE OF SOME 24 TO 26 WEEKS DURATION. FOLLOWING HYSTEROTOMY, THE FETUS WAS ANALYZED. A 1-MONTH TIME PERIOD DURING WHICH CONCEPTION MUST HAVE TAKEN PLACE, WAS IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF THIS ANALYSIS. STATISTICAL CALCULATIONS ESTIMATED THAT ALMOST 90 PERCENT OF SUSPECT MEN SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE EXCLUDED ON SEROLOGIC GROUNDS. POLICE IDENTIFIED 36 MALES WHO HAD ACCESS TO THE VICTIM DURING THE IDENTIFIED TIME PERIOD, THE SUSPECTS INCLUDED VISITORS, PATIENTS, AND STAFF MEMBERS. FROM BLOOD SAMPLE ANALYSIS, 33 OF THE 36 SUSPECTS WERE EXCLUDED. AMONG THE THREE MEN NOT EXCLUDED WAS ONE WHO HAD FROM THE START BEEN THE PRIME POLICE SUSPECT. HE WAS A PATIENT IN HIS TWENTIES, WHO WAS ALLOWED TO HELP STAFF IN CARING FOR OTHER PATIENTS. HIS MENTAL HANDICAP PRECLUDED CONSIDERATION OF COURT PROCEEDINGS, BUT HIS MOVEMENTS WITHIN THE INSTITUTION WERE SUBSEQUENTLY RESTRICTED. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE GREATEST BENEFIT OF THE MASS BLOOD TESTING WAS REMOVING SUSPICION FROM THE INNOCENT. TABLES AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)