Introduction
The internet has opened up opportunities for many DNA laboratories to distribute free paternity test kits in hopes of a sale from returned samples. In Europe, France is the only country that regulates how paternity tests are conducted. Citizens of other European nations are free to satisfy their own curiosities and nagging doubts, while French citizens jump through hoops. Regulation and red tape protect some while hindering others.
Society Perspective
Pro: In 1941, the French government adopted a law called "Accouchement Sous X," or Childbirth Under X. This law allows a French woman to enter a hospital anonymously by signing her name as an X. Her identity and her child's identity are both kept anonymous. For a mother who has given birth anonymously, for whatever reason, a paternity test would surely break the anonymity. Mothers seeking refuge under the X law will undoubtedly seek the same protection under Article 16.
Alleged fathers will also benefit from this law because assessing paternity usually means child support payments. Years of due arrears may be charged to an alleged father if it is found that he is the biological father. Having a lawyer involved in the process for each case's beginning will give greater credibility to the test and its results. The transition from results to court decision is also smoothed and hastened by having a court-appointed lawyer.
Con: It's hard to say just how many people have forgone a paternity test because of the red tape involved. The majority of single mothers are in a less-than-favorable financial condition and probably can't afford to hire a lawyer.
Placing restriction on business operations shrinks the market, decreases competition, and drives up prices.
Business Perspective
Pro: DNA laboratories are able to sell a state utility service to virtually anyone through the postal service. The margin on DNA tests is high, and free home kits can be sent across international borders at a very low cost. French labs are much fewer than the number of labs in other countries, and the likelihood of business being conducted outside France is quite high. Large international laboratories could predatorily price their tests to the point where conducting a DNA test can no longer be done locally. DNA labs that are set up inside France will benefit from this legislation because French citizens are not permitted to conduct a test outside of the country. Although industry protection was not the reason for adding this article to the civil code, French labs capture the entire national market for paternity testing.
Con: Article 16 almost creates a public sector for paternity testing. The market size is reduced because fewer people will be willing conduct a test because of the increased complexity. In other countries, such as the UK and Germany, an individual can conduct a test almost whimsically. Having this new technology available to the general public at an affordable price has expanded the market size and allowed businesses to grow. In France, prices are relatively fixed. Consumers make choices based more on location than on price and quality.
The legislation also creates an entry barrier for other companies to enter the French market. In order for a laboratory in the UK to compete in France, it would need to expand operations and build inside the country. This infeasibility deters many businesses from expanding into France.
Conclusion
To some, red tape is an annoyance; to others, it is due process. Although Article 16-11 forces French citizens to undergo a more lengthy process when conducting a paternity test and hinders business competition, the article serves the best interest of the people. To make this legislation less burdensome, the court-appointed lawyer should be paid for by the state. This will allow more citizens to find the answers to their family-relation questions.
Tom LeBaron is a marketing representative of DNA Bioscience. Receive your own free home paternity testing kit, or learn more about DNA paternity testing in the UK.
I propose a lighter than air tubular unmanned mini blimp... Read More
Braden is quite wrong when he says the initiations to... Read More
To properly understand marketing one needs to understand the natural... Read More
Light Bulb ScienceEver wonder how a light bulb works? I... Read More
Eco-terrorists assume some how they are helping the environment, by... Read More
Recently some NASA Scientists were able to fly a MAV;... Read More
The Mighty Mississippi is backing up and causing flooding issues... Read More
There maybe a way to use acoustic transducers to pin-point... Read More
Can we coax warms of Locusts to attack our enemies?... Read More
Scientists and Robotic Researchers are attempting to design human type... Read More
Para Trooper Gliders were very popular in WW II, they... Read More
In the event of Bio threat how to mobilize Hospitals... Read More
Our oceans are home to many marine mammals, fish, turtles,... Read More
The much publicized stem cell research debate focusing on moral... Read More
I am beginning to wonder if scientists have been getting... Read More
Is it possible to build an active aerial minefield to... Read More
HOBBITS AND LICE:In late 2004 the media was all agog... Read More
Air has 750 times less density as the oceans, yet... Read More
TROJAN WORLD WAR: - Homer said there were nineteen battles... Read More
Plants, invertebrate animals, amphibians and even reptiles have the ability... Read More
An electric current produces a magnetic field. This is the... Read More
The art or science of metallurgy is vital to the... Read More
High Tension Power lines and transmission line towers make noise,... Read More
If Johannes Kepler, the renowned 17th century astronomer and discoverer... Read More
Soon scientists will have scaled down robotic insects. This is... Read More
NASA scientists had to solve a relatively common problem hear... Read More
Dowsing is definitely an intuitive art and one of the... Read More
Binoculars and telescopes and other astronomy equipment and accessories are... Read More
When Manufacturing nets of any type: Going for strength and... Read More
As we study more and more about Mars we know... Read More
DNA testing is routinely used in immigration cases to prove... Read More
What if in the event of a fire the building... Read More
If Johannes Kepler, the renowned 17th century astronomer and discoverer... Read More
ATHENS - GREECE, -- An individual person called Basil Dimitropoulos,... Read More
Can we hibernate humans using hydrogen sulfide gas for long-term... Read More
During the speach, Dr. Reg McDaniel talked about first seeing... Read More
Recently in a coffee shop I met a gentleman who... Read More
The concept of "nature" is a romantic invention. It was... Read More
Let's face it if you are in a business needing... Read More
Creating a Hurricane using a Space based laser array to... Read More
Want to learn a new language? Would you like to... Read More
Shooting Down an Enemy UAV so it cannot give away... Read More
When looking for life on Mars we should be thinking... Read More
If we are to tackle the challenges of future populations... Read More
Perhaps we should design tunneling robots, which can dig out... Read More
Energy in the form of heat is obtained when fuel... Read More
The landmark immigration case Sarbah vs. Home Office (1985) was... Read More
A recent study, which was conducted by the Florida State... Read More
Recently scientists were amazed that the space probes now leaving... Read More
We need very much to study meteorites more, but we... Read More
Research Method:Quantitative determination by contrasting HBV-DNA of cases before and... Read More
It is difficult to have a discussion with someone about... Read More
We propose a Stealth Aircraft or non-stealth composite aircraft to... Read More
Thought of the day. I talked to an old guy... Read More
Well it is written that God created man 5000 years... Read More
Human innate bonding to ELF ? Extremely Low Frequencies of... Read More
Many Shamans will go into a sweat house to get... Read More
Para Trooper Gliders were very popular in WW II, they... Read More
Love, pure Love, is the feeling one has when they... Read More
Binoculars and telescopes and other astronomy equipment and accessories are... Read More
Super sticky spray on dirt or mud simulation coating or... Read More
The ancient history of of man and bees has been... Read More
Identifying a human gait, walking patterns, running exists. Can such... Read More
Nature has millions of intervowen interrelationships among the numerous flora... Read More
To properly understand marketing one needs to understand the natural... Read More
Many articles have been written about the negative effects of... Read More
Science Articles |