Chapter 18 - The DNA Question
Genetic privacy became its own boundary.
I wanted to sue Eugenia for obtaining Niles’s DNA without consent.
Our attorney explained laws were messy.
A discarded straw may not carry same privacy protections in every jurisdiction.
Consumer genetic testing statutes vary.
Could pursue civil privacy claim.
Would we win?
Uncertain.
Did we need it?
I asked:
“What does Niles gain?”
Maybe damages.
Maybe injunction.
Maybe more litigation.
We already had no-use order in criminal/family resolution.
We chose not to add another suit.
Not every wrong needs maximum litigation.
Then I requested the private lab destroy remaining sample and data where legally possible.
They complied after identity/guardian verification, except records required by retention policy.
No public database upload.
Good.
Then Niles’s direct paternity sample.
We chose a lab with legal-chain procedures and data destruction options.
I became slightly obsessive.
Understandable.
Then Dr. Celia warned:
“Do not teach him his DNA is dangerous.”
Right.
Bodies should not become evidence forever.
At six, Niles learned genetics at science museum.
He pointed at display.
“DNA!”
I tensed.
He didn’t.
“Daddy DNA.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Dinosaurs have?”
“Sort of, but recoverable dinosaur DNA is complicated.”
May you like
He lost interest after seven seconds.
Children can move on if adults let them.
