Survey on the injunction of genetic fingerprinting in suspected sexual aggressors

Objective To assess the problems eventually created by fingerprinting for genetic identification of suspected sexual aggressors. Method An opinion poll was conducted among 13 practitioners (8 forensic experts and 5 biologists) using a list of 20 questions. Results Ten practitioners agreed that there were ethical problems in fingerprinting, and 6 of the 13 physicians surveyed claimed that fingerprinting was distressful for the suspect. Comments The ethical problems most frequently encountered were the presence of a third party during fingerprinting, the practitioners' lack of information at to the test's future use, the suspect's refusal to undergo such a test and the suspect's lack of information on the subsequent computerized treatment of the fingerprint, to enhance a national genetic data base for example, and the length of time during which the fingerprint is stored.