Guthrie test samples: is the problem solved?

Abstract

Most babies born in New Zealand have a blood sample taken shortly after birth for the purposes of certain screening tests. The samples are retained indefinitely. This paper considers whether such samples are the property of the child and whether the present changes in the Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Bill and the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights of 1996 are sufficient to resolve the issues. The paper expresses concern about the delegation of decision-making in this area to ethics committees.