Silent witness, articulate collective: DNA evidence and the inference of visible traits

Bioethics

Volumn 22, Issue 9, 2008, Pages 519-528

  M'Charek, Amade ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM   (Netherlands)

Author keywords

Ethics of visible traits; Forensic DNA; Legislation; Race; Visible traits

Indexed keywords

CRIMINAL LAW; DNA FINGERPRINTING; ETHICS; FEMALE; FORENSIC GENETICS; HUMAN; INFORMED CONSENT; LEGAL ASPECT; MALE; METHODOLOGY; NETHERLANDS; REVIEW;

CRIMINAL LAW; DNA FINGERPRINTING; FEMALE; FORENSIC GENETICS; HUMANS; INFORMED CONSENT; MALE; NETHERLANDS;

EID: 54049106915     PISSN: 02699702     EISSN: 14678519     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2008.00699.x     Document Type: Review

References (60)

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7. National Research Council. 1996. The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
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10. For an ethical evaluation, see Nuffield Council on Bioethics. 2007. The Forensic Use of Bioinformation: Ethical Issues. London: Nuffield Council on Bioethics.
11. 2007. The Forensic Use of Bioinformation: Ethical Issues. Ibid: 78-80.
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15. Edmond Locard cited on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Locard%27s_exchange_principle [Accessed 28 Jan 2008].
16. This take on objects is well elaborated in the science and technology studies (STS). See for examples on normativity: A. Mol. 2002. The Body Multiple: Ontology in Medical Practice. Durham, NC: Duke University Press;
17. J. Law. 2002 Aircraft Stories: Decentering the Object of Technoscience. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
18. For the normativity of a DNA profile see P. Rabinow. Galton's Regret: Of Types and Individuals. Cult Med Psychiatry 1993 17 : 59 65
19. M'charek, Galton's Regret: Of Types and Individuals. Cult Med Psychiatry 1993 17 : 59 65 op. cit. note 3.
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25. The Minister of Justice indicates the following: 'If the taking of cell material is not feasible because of considerable objections of the suspect (or because the suspect is heavily protesting) it is possible to use cell material that was not actively taken, such as hair or saliva on a coffee-cup', Ministerie van Justitie (2001) 'Nieuwe DNA-wetgeving treedt 1 november in werking' Persbericht, 31 oktober. This method had been applied for the first time in the Marianne Vaatstra case. The cigarette butt originating from a suspect who refused to participate in a dragnet was used in the DNA analysis. He was exonerated.
26. This regulation is quite crucial in terms of privacy and differs from e.g. regulations in the US where DNA samples can be used e.g. in research for improving forensic techniques (Ossorio & Duster, 'Nieuwe DNA-wetgeving treedt 1 november in werking' Persbericht op. cit. note 5).
27. For a discussion, see Nuffield Council on Bioethics, 'Nieuwe DNA-wetgeving treedt 1 november in werking' Persbericht op. cit. note 6.
28. Wet van 5 juli 2001 tot wijziging van de regeling van het DNA-onderzoek in strafzaken. Staatsblad 2001; 335.
29. Besluit DNA-onderzoeken in Verband met het Vaststellen van Uiterlijk Waarneembare Persoonskenmerken. Staatsblad. 2003; 201.
30. Besluit DNA-onderzoeken in Verband met het Vaststellen van Uiterlijk Waarneembare Persoonskenmerken. Staatsblad. 2003; Ibid: 1-2.
31. Besluit DNA-onderzoeken in Verband met het Vaststellen van Uiterlijk Waarneembare Persoonskenmerken. Staatsblad. 2003; Ibid: 1-2.
32. M. Benecke. Coding or non-Coding, That is the Question. EMBO reports 2002 3 : 498 501
33. Nuffield Council on Bioethics, Coding or non-Coding, That is the Question. EMBO reports 2002 3: op. cit., note 6, p. 81.
34. In addition the use of phantom sketches may jeopardize police investigation by generating too much information; see M. Innes. 2003. Investigating Murder: Detective Work and the Police Response to Criminal Homicide. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press: 241-249.
35. See especially Ossorio, 2003. Investigating Murder: Detective Work and the Police Response to Criminal Homicide. op.cit. note 10.
36. Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (2002) Wijziging van de regeling van het DNA-onderzoek in strafzaken in verband met het vaststellen van uiterlijk waarneembare persoonskenmerken uit celmateriaal. Jaarvergadering 2001-2002 28 7.
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43. See, e.g. Ossorio, A New Breed of High-tech Detectives. Science 2000 289: op. cit. note 10.
44. Nuffield Council on Bioethics, A New Breed of High-tech Detectives. Science 2000 289 : op. cit. note 6, p. 87.
45. Noorderlicht. March 7 2000. Documentary Verborgen Identiteiten. (Transcript, translation by author), at http://noorderlicht.vpro.nl/ afleveringen/2433157/ [Accessed 31 Jan 2008].
46. Jackson, 2000. Documentary Verborgen Identiteiten. op cit. note 36.
47. See http://www.mariannevaatstra.nl [Accessed 1 May 2008].
48. However, despite these findings the murder and the social dismay it caused had become an impetus for xenophobia and repugnance against (alleged criminal) asylum seekers in the Netherlands. See e.g. Burgemeester Andijk dult geen racisme bij info-avond [Mayor of Andijk does not tolerate racism during information evening] de Volkskrant, October 29, 1999.
49. For an overview of events, see the site of the Belgian broadcaster VRT: http://www.vrtnieuws.be/nieuwsnet_master/versie2/nieuws/details/ 060413Tienerdoodgestoken/index.shtml
50. H. Werdmölder. 2006. Het Vertwijfelde België. Trouw 27 May.
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53. S. Cole M. Lynch. The Social Creation of Suspects. Annu Rev Law Soc Sci 2006 2 : 39 60.
54. M'charek, The Social Creation of Suspects. Annu Rev Law Soc Sci 2006 2 : 39 60. op. cit. note 30.
55. Serre & Pääbo, The Social Creation of Suspects. Annu Rev Law Soc Sci 2006 2 : 39 60. op. cit. note 28.
56. For this take on politics, see Mol, The Social Creation of Suspects. Annu Rev Law Soc Sci 2006 2 : 39 60. op. cit. note 12;
57. J. Law A. Mol. Globalisation in Practice: On the Politics of Boiling Pigswill. Geoforum 2006 39 : 133 143.
58. My claim is not that forensic DNA is unique in this respect. Its analysis rather provides an example of how investigations of the ethics of technologies can be carried out in practice.
59. See e.g. Kifkif website, Globalisation in Practice: On the Politics of Boiling Pigswill. Geoforum 2006 39 : 133 143. op. cit. note 44.
60. Nuffield Council on Bioethics, Globalisation in Practice: On the Politics of Boiling Pigswill. Geoforum 2006 39 : 133 143. op. cit. note 6.