Ethical Dilemmas on the Science of Forensic Genetics

Every day criminal justice system approaches the crimes that it does not find a clue and mark of propagators for. During the last decade, science of Forensic Genetics has provided better identification and surely information from remaining of propagators of crimes with the method of analyzing their DNA. However, collecting and unsuitable use of the DNA information may blemishes some of the ethical and legal principles such as informed consent, respect to privacy and confidence.Some of the legislatures pass, using the information without the informed consent. The other states’ statutes expressly prohibit the use of the DNA database to obtain information on investigations. The remaining states such as Iran neither expressly authorize nor prohibit such implications. This paper was prepared after searching books and papers by related words during the period of 1998 to 2007 and by consulting with experts. Although the objective of Forensic DNA databank is to improve the criminal proceedings, but there may be unintended negative consequences as well. This method may violate freedom and privacy or exercise the social discrimination. To confirm ethical and legal principles of using such information, obtaining informed consent is a necessary step. On the other hand, perhaps catch of informed consent from convicted and accused persons considering to circumstances of commission of crimes is unnecessary and sometimes impossible. But in this way, it's not possible to launch the excessive use and it is necessary to enact the rules.