Husband And Wife Discover That They Are .........

[wolf63]

This is a very unusual story and must be devastating for the couple involved.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/husband-and-wife-discover-they-are-biological-twins-after-ivf-clinic-performs-routine-dna-test-a3515666.html

[Mamyalynne]

Heartbreaking for them.

[anotheoldgit]

We are going to see much more of this kind of thing due to the continuing break up of the tradition family ie multi partners and children with different fathers etc.

[Mamyalynne]

Maybe so, however in this case their parents died.

[emmie]

terrible for the couple, but i'm not surprised in a way.

[Mamyalynne]

Not surprised they were attracted to each other?

Yes - there have been studies done on that aspect.

[woofgang]

Its one of the reasons why its so important for adopted children and those conceived using donated material, to have information about their biological parents.

[woofgang]

is knowing but consensual incest between adults illegal in the UK?

[pixie374]

Only if they have children together, I believe.

[pixie374]

Ah- it is illegal anyway.
"United Kingdom. Legislation regarding sexual offences in the United Kingdom is devolved. Sex with an adult who is related as parent (including adoptive parent), grandparent, child (including adopted child), grandchild, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece, is illegal."

[emmie]

what i meant with the advent as pointed out multi partners, IVF clinics not keeping a clear check on the biological aspects, parents then surely at some point this was bound to happen.
Devastating as you say, but what can they do now?

[Mamyalynne]

Yes, I can see that - I feel in cases like this when death of parents and poor communication with the adopted parents has caused this there is an added layer of sadness.

[Mamyalynne]

Goodness knows what this couple will decide regarding their future, if they can see one.

[woofgang]

I was just thinking that society possibly needs to go two ways now......either to do serious research into the medical risks with a view to decriminalisation of consensual incest between unknowing adults....or start insisting on DNA testing for all.

[EcclesCake]

The adoption rules forty/fifty years ago were really quite slack and completely un-future proofed.

A child could be put into the care of adopting parents just 8 miles from birth place, home of parents and future siblings. 8 miles is nothing in terms of teens getting out and socialising. The possibility of meeting an adopted sibling is significantly greater the closer to home they are settled with a family.

[Islay]

My grandmother had an adopted brother, he was friendly with a couple of girls from school this friendship went on for years in was only when they were in their twenties that they discovered they were infact brother and sisters.

[jno]

not surprising that two people so genetically close should find much in common. If they're raised together, the incest taboo would normally kick in to stop them getting romantic about each other; but if raised apart, that wouldn't happen.

[woofgang]

I am thinking too of single parent families where the parent who has the kids doesn’t keep in touch with the other parent.

[hc4361]

I really can't see why this couple can't stay married with the proviso that they adopt if they want a family.

[andres]

Apparently an administrative error meant that in this case neither set of adoptive parents were told that the child they were adopting had a twin..
There have been similar cases in the past and will probably be many more in the future.

[woofgang]

hc I think they have been told that they can stay married....the article says that they won’t be charged and are said to be considering their position.