Why Aren't Paternity Tests Mandatory At Birth?

*Why aren’t paternity tests mandatory at birth in the United States?* Now I’m not here to stir the pot for the sake of drama. I’m here to spark thought. ‘Cause when a child is born, hospitals do all kinds of tests—screen for diseases, hearing loss, genetic risks—things that help secure that child’s future. But when it comes to knowing *who the biological father is?* That’s usually based on whatever’s written down… not DNA. And the system says it’s about protecting privacy. About not causing chaos in relationships. About respecting the family unit. But let’s talk about the **child**. The one person in all of this who didn’t ask to be here, but has the most to lose by not knowing the truth. What happens when they grow up and start asking questions no one wants to answer? What about medical history—knowing your risks, your roots, your relatives? And let’s be real—secrets don’t stay buried. They come out in arguments, ancestry kits, or courtrooms. And when the truth hits later in life, it cuts deeper. Identity crisis. Betrayal. Broken trust. So who are we really protecting by avoiding the test? Is it about privacy—or is it about **avoiding accountability**? Maybe we should be offering paternity testing at birth as a *standard option*. Not to shame or divide—but to bring clarity, early on. For the child. For the future. Look, every family situation is different—but truth? Truth is universal. And if we say we care about our communities, we gotta start caring about how they’re built—from the foundation up.