In particular, Dr Axiaq was quoted as saying that “genetic testing is being abused in Malta, as the recent television programme Tista’ Tkun Int! showed”. Dr Axiaq added that “in this case a six-year old girl discovered who her parents were after cells were taken from the girl’s mouth and subjected to a genetic test.”

Tista Tkun Int’s presenter and producer Rachel Vella and co-producer Colin Aquilina strongly deny that any underage person was subjected to genetic testing on their television programme. This denial is admitted by Dr Axiaq, who told this newspaper that he had based his facts on information received from others rather than personal knowledge.

Dr Axiaq had first made these claims when he spoke on the adjournment of the House of Representatives some weeks ago. He again repeated the allegations, naming once again Tista’ Tkun Int! when he was interviewed by this paper’s journalists.

Dr Axiaq said there was talk at the Bioethics Commission about genetic testing and the television programme and he had wrongly assumed that the genetic testing for paternity was done on a minor on Tista’ Tkun Int!.

Moreover, Dr Axiaq admitted that his allegation that “cells were taken from the girl’s mouth” was just an assumption on his part. In fact, the producers of Tista’ Tkun Int! did not understand where such information was obtained as they were never present at the time when the DNA sample was taken by the specialist and it was never filmed. They admit that there have been two cases of genetic testing on the programme and both involved adults and were carried out for a valid reason – to find their long lost parents.

For Dr Axiaq, the age of the person who undergoes genetic testing is immaterial. It does not change anything really, he said. The Bioethics Committee insists that the proper procedures must be followed including counselling and the test carried out after a Court order is issued.

This is the advice the Bioethics Commission has given to the Ministry of Health.

The producers of the programme added that all the procedures were followed. Although only guidelines were provided to regulate this particular field and no appropriate law was enacted to stipulate what the procedure should be, both Tista’ Tkun Int! and the company involved adhered to the guidelines regarding the cases in question. The company they used to conduct the genetic testing is well-known internationally and its procedures are serious and exhaustive. In fact, the programme’s producers first had a training session with the company in order to absorb the various procedures and counselling was also offered and given to the two persons involved. The producers added that Tista’’ Tkun Int! has grown to such an extent that nowadays when investigating stories, legal advice and the services of a qualified forensic and chartered psychologist, social workers and other relevant professionals are sought. This is done to ensure that the proper procedures are followed and that the persons involved are given the right support and counselling. Great importance is also given to the rights and wishes of such individuals.

There is no legal requirement yet for anyone who wants to take a genetic test to get a court order. Had there been such a law, the programme producers would have approached the Court fully confident they would have been granted permission, as in these two cases the two adults were very eager to have the genetic test, which was being done for a valid reason.

Dr Axiaq argued that the principle objective of the procedures was to protect minors in such cases. The Tista’ Tkun Int! producers once again stated that the tests were carried out on two consenting adults who were given a detailed explanation of what the tests involved and were given counselling.

Genetic testing does not just give information on who the parents of the person are but it also provides a wealth of information about other aspects of the subject’s health, such as his state of health and his immune system.