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. 2019 Jul 12:1:114-125.
doi: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2019.07.003. eCollection 2019.

Forensic genealogy, bioethics and the Golden State Killer case

Ray A Wickenheiser  1
Affiliations

Forensic genealogy, bioethics and the Golden State Killer case

Ray A Wickenheiser. Forensic Sci Int Synerg. .

Abstract

A case study will be used to examine specific issues of bioethics and forensic science that occur in forensic investigative genealogical searching, which include genetic privacy, discrimination and public safety concerns. The forensic investigative process and various investigative DNA tools will also be described. The Golden State Killer Case (1) will be examined to highlight and discuss forensic ethical issues to develop an ethical framework, as well as provide recommended solutions to pressing public safety and privacy issues facing crime laboratories and criminal investigators. Use of the ethical concept of proportionality (2) will be utilized to contrast and balance competing ethical concerns.

Keywords: Ancestry; Bioethics; Ethnicity; Familial searching; Forensic DNA; Forensic ethics; Forensic genealogy; Forensic science; Genealogical searching; Genealogy; Investigative genealogy; Partial matching; Phenotyping; Proportionality.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Forensic genealogy casework flow.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Wickenheiser R.A. A crosswalk from medical bioethics to Forensic Bioethics. Forensic Sci. Int.: Synergy. 2019;1:35–44. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X19300695 - PMC - PubMed
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