By Emmanuel O. Fashakin, M.D., Esq.
Nancy (not real name) is a pretty young lady who has just given birth to a baby girl. One month after the birth, Nancy came into the office with the baby’s “father”, Tony. Nancy spoke first: “well, there is no doubt that Tony is my baby’s father, but we just want to be sure.”
I asked them whether the DNA test was court ordered. No, they replied. Tony was very happy to be the baby’s father, but Nancy was honest that she had more than one partner at the time of the conception of the baby, and Tony wants to be sure he has the right baby.
Well, with the consent of all the parties concerned (the baby did not object to my swabbing her cheeks), I obtained DNA sample from Nancy, Tony, and our baby adorable. The results were e-mailed to me by the laboratory about one week later: it was not even close — Tony could never be the father of baby adorable!
That was about 18 months ago. Today, I saw Nancy and baby adorable for well care and immunizations. Baby is doing fine. Out of curiosity, I asked Nancy: “hey, did you ever find the right guy eventually”? “Yes, I did”, came the reply: “I took him to Family Court, and court-ordered DNA confirmed that he is the father. He is now paying me child support.”
So what happened to Tony?, I asked Nancy. “Well, he never came back after hearing the result of the test; last I heard, he had joined the US Army.” Poor Tony. Better luck next time!
Emmanuel O. Fashakin, M.D.,FRCS(Ed), FAAFP, Esq.
Attorney at Law and Medical Director,
Abbydek Family Medical Practice, P.C.
79-35 153rd St., Flushing, NY 11367
web address: www.abbydek.com
alternative email: [email protected]
Cell phones: 347-217-6175; 347-439-2411.
