Document Detail


Forensic databases: implications of the cases of S and Marper.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19537444     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The recent judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the cases of S and Marper highlights some of the crucial ethical and legal issues relating to privacy, informed consent and discrimination raised by the use of forensic databases. This article explains the judgment and discusses some broader questions, in particular the reliability of fingerprint and DNA evidence and its effectiveness in preventing and detecting crime. The approach of the European judges is strongly rights-based, in contrast to the unsophisticated utilitarianism of the English courts. Their main objection is to the 'blanket and indiscriminate' retention of all kinds of forensic bioinformation. Not only does this make it difficult to justify a compulsory population-wide database, but it will also require strict criteria for retention of each kind of bioinformation and adequate safeguards for both convicted and unconvicted individuals.
Authors:
Bob Hepple
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Legal Cases    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Medicine, science, and the law     Volume:  49     ISSN:  0025-8024     ISO Abbreviation:  Med Sci Law     Publication Date:  2009 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-06-22     Completed Date:  2009-08-04     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0400721     Medline TA:  Med Sci Law     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  77-87     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Databases, Factual / legislation & jurisprudence*
Forensic Medicine / legislation & jurisprudence*
Genetic Privacy / legislation & jurisprudence*
Great Britain
Humans
Informed Consent / legislation & jurisprudence*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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