Should DNA Paternity tests be mandatory at birth?

[ShyGuyInChicago]

What do you think? Will this solve the problem of men denying paternity and women intentionally naming the wrong man as the father of their child?

[Dorsum Oppel]

If they are intentionally naming the wrong man, then they most likely have a good reason.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

If they are intentionally naming the wrong man, then they most likely have a good reason.

Not always. Some women do that to avoid ruining their relationships. Some women may lie because the real father is a bad guy, though that does not justify lying.

[Dorsum Oppel]

Not always. Some women do that to avoid ruining their relationships. Some women may lie because the real father is a bad guy, though that does not justify lying.

If they want to lie to their partner, let them. What possible benefit could this have? All you get is an oppressive and invasive government. Plus, DNA tests are going to be fucking expensive if we get them done for every baby and proposed father in the country.

[Amnesiac]

If they want to lie to their partner, let them. What possible benefit could this have? All you get is an oppressive and invasive government. Plus, DNA tests are going to be fucking expensive if we get them done for every baby and proposed father in the country.

Exactly. As long as the baby has one responsible parent, it's not really necessary.

[INFERNO]

If the woman intentionally names the wrong father, then I don't see how paternity tests would resolve it. The tests show who the likely father is but if she already knows and lies, then the tests aren't going to do much. If the father denies being the father, the tests could show to others that he's incorrect, however, he's denying because he doesn't want to be the father or have impregnated the woman. His stance probably would still hold and he'd go from denying to flat out saying he doesn't want her and/or the baby. It could also lead to him getting his face getting re-arranged a few times if others initially believed his lie.

So I doubt it'd do much to change those situations. Besides, if governments fund these tests, are they going to have any influence over swaying the denials and false accusations? Absolutely not. They can give the proper documentation but after that it's back in the hands of the parents. The government isn't going to hold shotguns to each parent's head and demand them to admit they're a parent of the child and they will be as responsible as they can in raising it. If it does get that intrusive, it'll start a enormous shitstorm and that political party would be out on their butts in no time, probably with having many people wanting to re-arrange their faces too.

Ideally the baby should have two responsible parents but if not, then have one (better than none).

[ShyGuyInChicago]

If they want to lie to their partner, let them. What possible benefit could this have? All you get is an oppressive and invasive government. Plus, DNA tests are going to be fucking expensive if we get them done for every baby and proposed father in the country.

This could ensure that biological fathers are held responsible, and that children know their biological identity. Sometimes for health reasons biological parents need to be known so that medical history can be established in the event illness so that the illness can be treated as adequately as possible. That is another benefit.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Also some men might abandon kids that they raised if they find out they are not the biological fathers. This could prevent that?

[Sage]

No, because then they'd have to cancel the Maury show.