DNA Testing can go horribly wrong.

[sugarfizzle]

Ruskie, You say "I can’t think of any discoveries as a result of DNA test in my own family that would lead to a scenario like yours. Sad for your family that this has happened, but I think it would be the exception rather than the rule."

None of us can imagine that until it happens.

Everything was hunky dory with my tree, everything well documented and well sourced. My 2 uncles well documented and sourced as  well. Then an unknown match appears, who is either a half nephew or a first cousin once removed to me and another tested cousin. 3 sons of my grandparents - one of them had a previously unknown son.

You don't mind finding out who your possible great grandfather was, if your grandfather was illegitimate.
You don't mind finding out who your grandfather was, if your father was illegitimate.
You don't mind finding out who your father was, if you were illegitimate.

But for the families on the other side, it is very different.

It does need thinking about carefully, I agree, but in spite of what has happened with you, BourneGooner, try to build some bridges.

Xinia, I am so sorry to hear your story, but as a nurse for all my working life, I have nursed so many people who really don't know what they are saying when suffering from dementia, things they would never have said when in full health. So glad of your outcome.

Panda - indeed, if you don't discover it, somebody else will.

Food for thought, this thread, but I don't regret taking the test, my cousin doesn't regret taking it, and a cousin from the 3rd son is going to get tested, with the full knowledge of what could be the outcome.

Regards Margaret

[BushInn1746]

If they are family related, they are family in my book and should all be respected as family.

[Ayashi]

Someone appeared on my mother's DNA matches as a third cousin. With such a close relation I was excited but confused about where she matched. I conversed with her daughter regularly, updating her every time I identified one of our shared matches, who all were descending from the same people. We couldn't match any of the matches to her side of the tree and neither of her grandparents had ancestry that led back to my family.

It turned out that her grandfather did not descend from my family, but her grandmother's brother in law did...

She never spoke to me again.

[Mart 'n' Al]

Mark, could you expand on what you said earlier, "Apparently, DNA can also be acquired during certain medical procedures too?"

Martin

[Pheno]

Imagine the scenario if, as the result of your dna test, it was established that you are not the child of one of either your mother or your father which you had believed for years was the case.  Maybe both they and any siblings had also thought this.

Can you imagine the possible fallout over this and the tearing the family apart - maybe permanently.  If this revelation had been about a previous generation then the fallout wouldn't be so devastating.

Whilst none of this is your fault the very fact that you had taken the dna test would quite firmly put you in the hotseat.

None of us know if we are going to face a situation like that with such an outcome so there probably does need to be some careful consideration but I don't think that we need to expect illegitimacy from a dna test.

Pheno

[BushInn1746]

Mark, could you expand on what you said earlier, "Apparently, DNA can also be acquired during certain medical procedures too?"

Martin

Hello Martin

I have seen the claim in a Medical Magazine (not BMA).

Organ transplant and blood transfusion are thought to be two procedures, where DNA acquisition is alleged to have occurred.

People are often given anti-rejection drugs, because the body sees them as foreign to start with. I'd certainly like to know more about it, just out of interest.

Mark

[River Tyne Lass]

Xin, I agree with sugarfizzle that sometimes, if people are ill they might say things they do not mean due to confusion.

My now deceased older sister, developed pneumonia many years ago.  I went to hospital with her.  She seemed reasonably okay (mentally when she walked in) however, when asked questions about her circumstances she informed the staff that she had children but they were all adopted.  She said this in front of some of her (grown)children - who I might add were all her own - none adopted.  We were gobsmacked.  When my sister did get well again she was as mystified as anyone as to why she had claimed to only have 'adopted' children.  I think she was a bit mortified about this in fact but I think we all understood that it was part and parcel of her illness at the time.

[Finley 1]

xxxx

thank you


xxxin

I forgave Poppa always did and grew to understand the illness better.. but still had to double check..

[Mart 'n' Al]

I too have experience of family members saying very strange things when ill. Whether it is the effect of the illness, or possibly the medication, we will never know.

Martin