THE EDITOR, Sir:

I feel it imperative to respond to an article in your Jamaica Gleaner by prominent Montego Bay businessman Mark Kerr-Jarrett under the caption "Kerr-Jarrett calls for national database to tackle crime in Jamaica." Although I agree with Mr. Kerr-Jarrett that something needs to be done to tackle the problem of crime in Jamaica, his suggestion on using a database similar to what we have been using here in the States is incorrect.

Hospitals do not collect DNA samples, or any other samples for that matter from new-borns for the purposes of becoming a permanent part of their social security records. That is totally false. Hospitals for the most part, do take an imprint of a new-born's feet as a way to help identify a child if the need should ever present itself, but for the most part, the primary means of identification still remains an armband with the mother's last and first name, along with the date of birth, etc. Furthermore, any collecting of samples other than that of a new-born's cord blood, which is used to check for genetic disease, would be illegal. We have what is referred to as the HIPPA Laws that covers just such a situation to which the gentleman is referring.

I hope that this information was helpful.

I am, etc.,

A. Atkins

woodyghp@aol.com

Via Go-Jamaica