atom.xml"/> index.rdf"/> index.xml"/>
 
masthead

DNA Testing Archives

DNA unlikely to help with Tsunami efforts

Here's more disheartening news concerning Tsunami victims. For all its worth in the western world, DNA evidence isn't helping in the recovery efforts, regrettably. On MSNBC's 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann,' Dr. Wecht said "it's extremely unlikely, in many of these villages and coastal towns, that for any reason whatsoever, anybody's DNA would have been recorded or that materials would be accessible."

January 06, 2005 | Permalink

Lives hang in the balance

The deficiencies of personnel, space and equipment in forensic science labs throughout the U.S. is leading to shoddy practices and erroneous DNA test results with potentially innocent lives hanging in the balance, Dr. Wecht says.

In an article published by Knight-Ridder, Dr. Wecht writes, "With few exceptions, crime labs are overwhelmingly backlogged with requests from law enforcement agencies, coroner and medical examiner offices, and other appropriate submitting entities for DNA tests." Such conditions can lead to horrendous problems, he argues.

Case in point: The Houston police chief requested the Texas Department of Public Safety to delete from its DNA database all cases examined by the Houston Police Department's crime lab due to the lab's poor management and improper procedures, calling into question cases involving defendants now on Death Row.

See article: DNA testing: challenging the gold standard

June 18, 2003 | Permalink

Homepage
Welcome
About Cyril Wecht
Medical-legal Services
Wecht Institute
In the Media
Forensic Science
Books
Web Journal

FEATURES

A Note to Funeral Home Directors

Send an consultation request to inquire Dr. Wecht's availability for medical-legal consulting services.

Select the font size which suits you: small or large.