| Down syndrome: coercion and eugenics. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21555947 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Experts agree that coercion by insurance companies or governmental authorities to limit reproductive choice constitutes a eugenic practice. We discuss discrimination against families of children with Down syndrome who chose not to have prenatal testing or chose to continue a pregnancy after a prenatal diagnosis. We argue that this discrimination represents economic and social coercion to limit reproductive choice, and we present examples of governmental rhetoric and policies condoning eugenics and commercial policies meeting criteria established by experts for eugenics. Our purpose is to sensitize the clinical genetics community to these issues as we attempt to provide the most neutral nondirective prenatal genetic counseling we can, and as we provide postnatal care and counseling to children with Down syndrome and their families. We are concerned that if eugenic policies and practices targeting individuals with Down syndrome and their families are tolerated by clinical geneticists and the broader citizenry, then we increase the probability of eugenics directed toward other individuals and communities. |
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Authors:
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Linda L McCabe; Edward R B McCabe |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics Volume: 13 ISSN: 1530-0366 ISO Abbreviation: Genet. Med. Publication Date: 2011 Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-08-04 Completed Date: 2011-11-23 Revised Date: 2012-02-27 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9815831 Medline TA: Genet Med Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 708-10 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Abortion, Induced California Coercion* Directive Counseling Down Syndrome / diagnosis*, genetics Eugenics* Female Genetic Counseling* Humans Male Mass Screening Pregnancy Prejudice Prenatal Diagnosis Reproductive Rights Young Adult |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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Genet Med. 2012 Jan;14(1):168
[PMID:
22237447
]
Genet Med. 2011 Aug;13(8):711-3 [PMID: 21753732 ] |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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