A new pre - natal showing programme in Denmark has halve the numeral of sister with Down ’s Syndrome . The success of the political platform , undeniably a form of eugenics , raise a number of doubtfulness 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 welfare to knowing whether you ’re going to have a Down ’s Syndrome baby . The tike will take lifelong care and supervision , which could be a waste pipe on house ( and the state ) . Presumably , having that information too soon in a maternity will allow the parents the option to terminate it and try for a child who will grow up to endure autonomously . And indeed , investigator account in this workweek ’s British Medical Journal that the examination has clear had this effect in Denmark , where the number of babies hold with Down ’s Syndrome go 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 gestation showed several symptom of make a Down ’s sister , the Doctor of the Church would suggest a more invasive trial that could determine beyond a doubtfulness whether the baby would be born with the consideration . antecedently , the only tests uncommitted had been the incursive one and as a termination few women prefer to take the test . Even today , all Down ’s pre - natal testing in Denmark is opt - in for parents .
Let ’s say the musical theme of give the sack a Down ’s pregnancy does n’t upset you . But what about babies who will be born with holes in their hearts , a electric potential for cancer , or possible schizophrenia ? Where does eugenics become genetic fascism ? give that this kind of pre - natal screening is aim at helping parents make an informed decision about whether to end , what weather condition should parents be allowed to screen for ?
Impact of a New National Screening Policy for Down ’s Syndrome in Denmark[via British Medical Journal ]
EugenicsMedicineScience
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