Launching the Greek Forensic DNA Database: The Legal Framework and Arising Ethical Issues

• NCJ Number: 236669
• Journal: Forensic Science International: Genetics Volume: 5 Issue: 5 Dated: November 2011 Pages: 407-410
• Author(s): Polychronis Voultsos; Samuel Njau; Nikolaos Tairis; Dimitrios Psaroulis; Leda Kovatsi
• Date Published: November 2011
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: Ireland

Annotation

Since the creation of the first national DNA database in Europe in 1995, many European countries have legislated laws for initiating and regulating their own databases. This article presents the current legal framework in Greece, highlighting issues that need to be clarified, and it discusses possible ethical issues that may arise.

Abstract

Since the creation of the first national DNA database in Europe in 1995, many European countries have legislated laws for initiating and regulating their own databases. This article presents the current legal framework in Greece, highlighting issues that need to be clarified, and it discusses possible ethical issues that may arise. The Greek government legislated a law in 2008, by which the National DNA Database of Greece was founded and regulated. According to this law, only DNA profiles from convicted criminals were recorded. Nevertheless, a year later, in 2009, the law was amended to permit the creation of an expanded database including innocent people and children. Unfortunately, the new law is very vague in many aspects and does not respect the principle of proportionality. Therefore, according to our opinion, it will soon need to be re-amended. Furthermore, prior to legislating the new law, there was no debate with the community itself in order to clarify what system would best suit Greece and what the citizens would be willing to accept. (Published Abstract)