Privacy of Test Results

[otf]

Olga, if you want to move this to Genetic Research, Testing and Results, please do so.

Several people have recently asked what is the big deal about test results.

Here’s a statement from Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory regarding privacy of testing information:

tvmdl.tamu.edu/about/rules2/210199V1.php

It is the operational procedure of TVMDL to release information on cases submitted only to the submitting veterinarian and the owner of the animal or specimen. All other individuals inquiring about a case must present a valid subpoena before TVMDL will release information on the case. Any exceptions to this procedure can only be made by the Executive Director.

It may not matter to some people if or how their cattle’s test results are used; however, I believe the ADCA’s Genetics & Pedigree Committee operates under the tenets that cattle testing results are treated the same way that human medical information is handled…that is, unless a release has been specifically given, it is considered strictly confidential and belongs to the person that authorizes and pays for the testing.

Maybe Gary Clark or another member of the G&P Committee is in a position to address this more thoroughly than I.

[gulfcapt]

I believe if peoples medical history was public some people wouldn't catch diseases they didn't ask for either. I'm still very confused on what the big deal is here! You had posted something that Texas VMDL wrote but why the secrete on the test? what can anyone do with some elses DNA test or any test in that matter?

[cddexter]

I've stayed out of this one till now. If as Gary says, in the course of helping register one of your animals when you were having trouble and needed the ADCA's help, she casually noticed an anomoly, and it 'clicked' in her mind, then mentioning Fermoy was stupid, but not all that intentionally bad. If instead, she deliberately kept Fermoy's record and then used it for her own purposes, then I agree with you.

There has been no information available to us as to which side of these two scenarios her actions fall.

Let me give you one of your examples right back at ya:

Nov 29, 2011 10:02:53 GMT -5 @genebo said:

Two things are at work here.

Suppose that someone using the data without authorization discovered that your cattle weren't registered properly, and disclosed it publicly. Instead of you being able to correct your registrations and go on, your sales fell off, a big uproar was caused, and for years people argued about the purity of the breed.

This is exactly what your favourite mentor does, by publicly accusing the owners of deliberate misrepresentation and NO defense is acceptable. This has happened a number of times, and every single issue that's come up has been treated the same way: ****THIS IS DELIBERATE FUDGING OF THE RECORDS*****!!!!!!!!!!. Never, never has any allowance ever been made for ignorance, stupidity, or simple innocent error.

Since, unless you have special insider info you are hoarding, not one of us out there actually knows the details, it's not in anyone's best interests to keep pouring gas on the flames.

c.
]

[wdd]

Yes, the others posted while I was typing mine.

[otf]

Gary, with all due respect, I accept your apology, but I am advising you to delete this post. You've gone into way too much depth here and there is no need for it. If you don't know how to delete then perhaps Olga can.

[wdd]

Thank you Gale. I deleted both these post but one is quoted in your post so I can't delete it.

Hopefully in the future we can meet in person and have a pleasurable conversation and get to know each other better without the computer interferring with our meanings and intensions.

[otf]

Nov 29, 2011 15:58:49 GMT -5 wdd said:

Thank you Gale. I deleted both these post but one is quoted in your post so I can't delete it.

Mine is now deleted as well.

Hopefully in the future we can meet in person and have a pleasurable conversation and get to know each other better without the computer interferring with our meanings and intensions.

That would be nice. Thanks, Gary.

[gulfcapt]

In my mind their is no valide reply on the big secrete of testing, its exactly that! Personal prefrence! and yes I would tell my wife she looked fat in a dress that makes her look fat. At the very end It comes down to being honest, no more no less. If someone found something in your cows DNA that they made money on( millions) then get a lawyer if their not willing to share the wealth. but people tend to use the worse senario to get a point across, instead of what if they found a cure for cancer in a cows DNA then it would be all right to pry in personal history "right' and yes i'm bad for that my self.
I got alittle worked up on this thread, but I won't post nothing else on it

[Olga]

Wow, Gene, sounds like it was a long and tedious process - I'm glad you didn't give up and even more so that the sire for genotyped afterall! Congrats!

[cddexter]

Gene, it isn't the accurate facts that sink things, it's the not accurate.

The new embryo protocol was not under development when Fermoy's embryo was implanted, it had been in place for a year. Requirements were a known.

There was a prior embryo protocol which also required the parentage proof. It had been around at least 10 years--back from when Shep Springer and June Goose were doing embryos.

You did not get caught in the middle before guidelines were established.

Your post suggests you sent info to the whole Board. Is this true?

Did you go to the Genetics Committee for help?

Were the nine other exceptions you point to related to embryos? (Remember there are more embryos out there so potentially it wasn't just one exception, it would have been again and again.)

Did this start out as genotypes available but the owner refusing to provide them? Was this an attempt to prevent you from registering the calf in the ADCA?

There must be a genotype on the bull around somewhere other than the one the ADCA managed to get for you, since you had already recorded Eve with Judy's database.

While you are not accountable to me, you have made allegations here that everyone is reading, and taking as gospel. It would be nice if we all had the right info.

Gene, don't perceive this as what you term a personal attack. Instead, it's meant to be questions about the completeness of the information you've provided. c.

[legendrockranch]

Just for reference the ET protocol was passed at the June 2008 AGM in Belton, Texas

Embryo Transplant Protocol

A motion was made by John Hinkley (Director at Large) and seconded by Janice Fennema (Director at Large) to accept and implement the Embryo Transfer Procedure as presented by the Genetics Committee. Motion carried unanimously.

Barb