Indiana Department Of Health Saved Baby Blood Work Without Parent’s Consent

An Indiana Department of Health Department official says the state has blood samples from babies born since 1991, for possible use in medical research, saving it without permission from their parents. That's two million blood samples stored in a warehouse. Indiana changed its policy last year and began asking parents whether they would allow their newborn baby's blood to be used for research. But Bowman says the state is struggling with what to do with the blood samples collected before that. The health department has posted forms on its Web site allowing parents to request their child's sample be destroyed or saved for research.