A Yonkers woman is pursuing legal action against a DNA lab after a mistaken paternity test led her to terminate her pregnancy.
At a Glance
- A wrongful paternity test indicated her fiancé was not the father, leading to an abortion.
- Four months later, the lab admitted an IT error; the test was incorrect.
- Her relationship was severely affected, and she is now seeking reparations.
- The lab has a history of similar errors, raising broader reliability concerns.
A Life-Altering Mistake
A Yonkers woman is suing the DNA Diagnostics Center after receiving incorrect paternity test results. The test originally showed a 99.9% probability that another man was the father of her unborn child, not her fiancé. This led the woman to proceed with an abortion at 20 weeks, a decision she later deeply regretted. Her belief in the results turned her world upside down, influencing life-altering choices.
Months after her decision, the lab confirmed an error due to a faulty IT system. Reanalyzed results showed a 0% chance that her fling was the father. DNA Diagnostics Center has not clearly explained the initial mistake or the delay in revisiting the results, raising significant concerns about their operational integrity.
Impact on Relationships and Mental Health
The woman states the laboratory’s error devastated her relationship. “You took away the family I could have had,” she lamented, reflecting on what could have been with her fiancé. Their reconciliation and the ensuing pregnancy were precious to her, only to be marred by erroneous test results.
“You took away the family I could have had. This was the person I was marrying. This is the person I wanted to build a family with. The reason I took action was because I believed in these results. I thought this was something that was one hundred percent true. And it led me to the abortion.” said an unnamed woman.
She now attends therapy to cope with the emotional distress caused by the combined loss of her relationship and potential family. Her lawyer has highlighted further errors detected in their testing process, suggesting systemic issues within the lab facility. This case, amidst others reflective of the lab’s ongoing issues, heightens questions about reliability and accuracy in DNA testing.
Broader Implications and Calls for Accountability
DNA Diagnostics Center not only faces this lawsuit but has a history of errors, including a 2018 case where a Connecticut man received $2.5 million after being misled about paternity. Concerns mount regarding the reliability of tests provided to government agencies, further emphasizing the magnitude of these errors.
“If you’re going in to ask for a paternity test, you don’t want to go do that in front of people who are getting their hair done.” said Craig Phemister.
The woman’s attorney voices skepticism over how swiftly the test results were rectified yet not communicated in a timely manner. With past legal settlements evidencing accountability struggles, the reemerging pattern of negligence in a sensitive sphere such as paternity testing underscores the necessity for operational reform and stringent oversight.
