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In 2021, the Commission Investigation Intercountry Adoption (Commission Joustra) determined that gross misconduct had taken place under the supervision of the Dutch government during intercountry adoptions in the previous century. Adoptees seeking to locate their biological family found errors in their adoption files or discovered that they had no adoption file at all. Without information about their origins, it is not possible (or extremely complicated) to search for family or answer questions about identity.
Following the Commission Joustra's report, intercountry adoptions were suspended (although they are now possible again) and an Intercountry Adoption Expertise Centre was established. This Expertise Centre was supposed to assist adoptees in their search for family members and provide psychosocial and legal support. However, without documents, there can be no search, right?
In recent years, commercial DNA databases have been growing in both number and size. Individuals can submit their DNA (by spitting into a tube or swabbing their cheek with a cotton swab) to these companies. These companies can then inform them about their ancestral origins and whether they like coriander (at least, they claim they can). Additionally, these DNA databases offer a Relative Finder. Here, the DNA is compared to all (often millions) of other DNA profiles in the database to find a match: a family member.
The Scientific Research and Documentation Centre (WODC; part of the Ministry of Justice and Security) asked Dialogic to investigate whether the Expertise Centre should advise adoptees to use these commercial DNA databases. Furthermore, a framework had to be developed to guide the choice of a specific DNA database. The full report including the decision framework in response can be found (here).
We found that there are few technical objections to using commercial DNA databases. The tests themselves are reliable and have a low false positive and false negative rate. However, statistically, the chance of finding a match with a family member (close enough to start a search) is extremely small - even in the largest database. Databases generally contain Western DNA profiles and not profiles from the countries where adoptees originate. These profiles are precisely what is needed to begin a search. When deciding whether or not to use DNA databases, legal considerations are also important. What happens to your (extremely personal) data and who has access to it? However, the databases examined here all met the minimum requirements for responsible and safe handling of DNA material. Thirdly, finding a family member is often an emotional process for adoptees. The extent to which DNA databases offer psychosocial support varies significantly. This social aspect can also be considered in our decision framework when choosing to use a DNA database.
For further questions about this research, please contact the project leader Robbin te Velde (tevelde@dialogic.nl). Robbin will also be speaking on 26 September 2022 at the Knowledge Café of the Ministry of Justice and Security about this research.
Minister Weerwind presented the report to the Dutch House of Representatives on 28 September 2022.
