Denmark's Kinder, Gentler System of Eugenics

[Beorn]

A new pre-natal screening program in Denmark has halved the number of babies with Down's Syndrome. The success of the program, undeniably a form of eugenics, raises a number of questions about how far people should go with pre-natal screening - and what kinds of conditions merit termination of a pregnancy. Many people, including the infamous bio-ethicist Peter Singer, would argue that there's a social benefit to knowing whether you're going to have a Down's Syndrome baby. The child will need lifelong care and supervision, which could be a drain on family (and the state). Presumably, having that information early in a pregnancy will allow the parents the option to terminate it and try for a child who will grow up to live autonomously. And indeed, researchers report in this week's British Medical Journal that the testing has clearly had this effect in Denmark, where the number of babies born with Down's Syndrome went down from 55 in 2000, to 31 in 2005, after the testing program was in place.

The Denmark program's main innovation was early, non-invasive testing for Down's Syndrome. If a pregnancy showed several symptoms of producing a Down's baby, the doctors would suggest a more invasive test that could determine beyond a doubt whether the baby would be born with the condition. Previously, the only tests available had been the invasive one and as a result fewer women opted to take the test. Even today, all Down's pre-natal testing in Denmark is opt-in for parents.

Let's say the idea of terminating a Down's pregnancy doesn't disturb you. But what about babies who will be born with holes in their hearts, a potential for cancer, or possible schizophrenia? Where does eugenics become genetic fascism? Given that this kind of pre-natal screening is aimed at helping parents make an informed decision about whether to terminate, what conditions should parents be allowed to screen for?

Impact of a New National Screening Policy for Down's Syndrome in Denmark [via British Medical Journal]

Source

[Groenewolf]

For it to be a form of Eugenics it should be relevant to know how many down syndrom patients get childeren themselves.

[Fortis in Arduis]

"Where does eugenics become genetic fascism?"

I note an inappropriate use of the f-word.

[SwordoftheVistula]

I don't get the people opposed to this. Do they want people to be born with Down Syndrome? Doesn't get any more evil than that, in my opinion.

[lei.talk]

when the "free" health-care provider
(the government) refuses to allow the mother
to burden the "free" health-care system
with the cripple of her choice.
*

[Fortis in Arduis]

I don't get the people opposed to this. Do they want people to be born with Down Syndrome? Doesn't get any more evil than that, in my opinion.

Indeed buddy, in the East they believe that the soul enters the body at birth, but we are saddled with the idea that spiritual life begins at conception.

[SwordoftheVistula]

Indeed buddy, in the East they believe that the soul enters the body at birth, but we are saddled with the idea that spiritual life begins at conception.

This is a fairly new idea at that. Our birthdates are still inscribed on our tombstones, and in the 1700s it was a crime to cause the death of a fetus, but it was not considered 'murder', it was an entirely seperate crime.

[Skandi]

when the "free" health-care provider
(the government) refuses to allow the mother
to burden the "free" health-care system
with the cripple of her choice.

Nobody is forced to abort it is just offered as a choice.

There is nothing new in what is happening here. In earlier times the pregnancy would have gone full term, and the baby been born, but without advanced medical care it would have died young, not putting such a strain on the society into which it had been born. Of course that is natural selection so it is good, but it seems preventing the mother form having to go through all of that pain and suffering is evil.