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(from DDC).

A New York Times article reports another case of babies who were switched after they were born at the hospital. Kay Rene Qualls and Dee Ann Shafer were born on the same day 56 years ago in Heppner, Oregon and grew up 20 miles from each other. Although each had heard rumors and jokes about being switched at birth, both were unaware of the circumstances regarding their birth, until an 86-year-old woman who was neighbor to Dee Ann’s mother made the startling revelation.

Although hospitals and birthing centers now employ stricter protocols and identification techniques to avoid such situations, these cases still do happen.

A 2005 report on infant security estimates that infant-mother mix-ups occur more than 23,000 times each year.

In light of some of the shortcomings current forms of identification may have, maternity DNA testing a reliable option when doubt arises. Maternity DNA tests compare the genetic information of the mother with the child to identify matches. Because the DNA of a child comes directly from his or her parents, half of the DNA should match the mother’s DNA.

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