Editorial: A Theological Consideration of Prenatal Screening as Eugenics

From First Things (Dec. 31, 2008):

The Good Life
By Amy Julia Becker

In a letter to the editor of the New York Times, William Motley, a geneticist of Oxford University, writes, “Fighting Down syndrome with prenatal screening does not ‘border on eugenics.’ It is a ‘search-and-destroy mission’ on the disease, not on a category of citizens. . . . ” Similarly, a pediatric cardiologist writes about Down syndrome: “Tremendous social, medical and monetary burdens are inevitable parts of this disorder . . . these (prenatal) tests are invaluable, should be made available to all, and may help individuals possibly avoid a very significant life-changing illness.” Much as Mr. Motley might want to claim that prenatal screening is not about a category of citizens, the practical result of what he advises is indeed to eliminate an entire group of persons.

In a recent collection of essays titled Theology, Disability, and the New Genetics, Hans Reinders states a countervailing claim: “Life is good as it is.” Life is good as it is. It sounds simple. Theologically, it rings true. And yet the vast majority of individuals in our culture choose to terminate a pregnancy if they learn that their baby will be born with a disability. Why? If life is good as it is, why is it considered good by many in our culture to ensure that children with disabilities are not born at all?

As Reinders writes, “many people with disabilities resulting from genetic disorders experience their own lives as good.” I can certainly affirm this statement in the case of our daughter Penny, who has Down syndrome. Penny is nearing her third birthday, as she would proudly tell anyone who cares to ask...

But then I think about the lives of some other children that I know, and the picture becomes more complicated. I think about Ajit, a young man in our church, who is afflicted with grand mal seizures nearly every day. I think about Lucy Rose, who died three hours after she was born due to anencephaly. Or Susan, a little girl with Trisomy 18, a genetic condition that, in the words of her doctor, “cannot sustain life.” She died when she was fourteen months old. And when I think about these children, and their families, it becomes more difficult for me to affirm categorically that life is good as it is...

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Comment Below: Many religious communities have strong opinions about disability issues; do you think their commentary is useful or not?  Do you agree or disagree with the broad vision of "the good life" that this author describes? Many people in the disability community support patients' rights to die, does this contradict Beckers affirmation that “many people with disabilities resulting from genetic disorders experience their own lives as good" ? Do you agree or disagree with this author's conclusions?

Comments

[Leticia Velasquez]

I agree with Amy Julia that pre-natal diganosis leads to eugenic abortions, why else would 90% of children with Down sydnrome, Trisomy 18 and cystic fibrosis be aborted?
If only these mothers knew what Amy Julia and I have experienced; that these children bring a special love with the challenges which makes them worthwhile. Having a child with Down syndrome has been an incomparable blessing to our family, enriching our lives and improving our character. We are more loving, patient, open-minded and tolerant, thanks to Christina.