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Reproductive carrier screening: responding to the eugenics critique

Reproductive genetic carrier screening (RCS), when offered to anyone regardless of their family history or ancestry, has been subject to the critique that it is a form of eugenics. Eugenics describes a range of practices that seek to use the science of heredity to improve the genetic composition of...

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Autores principales: Dive, Lisa, Newson, Ainsley J
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: BMJ Publishing Group 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9726954/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34244346
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2021-107343
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author Dive, Lisa
Newson, Ainsley J
author_facet Dive, Lisa
Newson, Ainsley J
author_sort Dive, Lisa
collection PubMed
description Reproductive genetic carrier screening (RCS), when offered to anyone regardless of their family history or ancestry, has been subject to the critique that it is a form of eugenics. Eugenics describes a range of practices that seek to use the science of heredity to improve the genetic composition of a population group. The term is associated with a range of unethical programmes that were taken up in various countries during the 20th century. Contemporary practice in medical genetics has, understandably, distanced itself from such programmes. However, as RCS becomes more widespread, gains public funding and uses expanded gene panels, there are concerns that such programmes could be perceived as eugenic either in intent or outcome. The typical response to the eugenics critique of RCS is to emphasise the voluntary nature of both participating in screening and making subsequent reproductive choices. While safeguarding individuals’ freedom to choose in relation to screening is essential, we consider this response inadequate. By examining the specific ethical wrongs committed by eugenics in the past, we argue that to avoid the perception of RCS being a form of eugenics it is essential to attend to the broader normative context in which reproductive decisions occur. Furthermore, ethical RCS programmes must recognise and respond to their potential to shift societal norms that shape individual reproductive choices.
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spelling pubmed-97269542022-12-08 Reproductive carrier screening: responding to the eugenics critique Dive, Lisa Newson, Ainsley J J Med Ethics Extended Essay Reproductive genetic carrier screening (RCS), when offered to anyone regardless of their family history or ancestry, has been subject to the critique that it is a form of eugenics. Eugenics describes a range of practices that seek to use the science of heredity to improve the genetic composition of a population group. The term is associated with a range of unethical programmes that were taken up in various countries during the 20th century. Contemporary practice in medical genetics has, understandably, distanced itself from such programmes. However, as RCS becomes more widespread, gains public funding and uses expanded gene panels, there are concerns that such programmes could be perceived as eugenic either in intent or outcome. The typical response to the eugenics critique of RCS is to emphasise the voluntary nature of both participating in screening and making subsequent reproductive choices. While safeguarding individuals’ freedom to choose in relation to screening is essential, we consider this response inadequate. By examining the specific ethical wrongs committed by eugenics in the past, we argue that to avoid the perception of RCS being a form of eugenics it is essential to attend to the broader normative context in which reproductive decisions occur. Furthermore, ethical RCS programmes must recognise and respond to their potential to shift societal norms that shape individual reproductive choices. BMJ Publishing Group 2022-12 2021-07-09 /pmc/articles/PMC9726954/ /pubmed/34244346 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2021-107343 Text en © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) .
spellingShingle Extended Essay
Dive, Lisa
Newson, Ainsley J
Reproductive carrier screening: responding to the eugenics critique
title Reproductive carrier screening: responding to the eugenics critique
title_full Reproductive carrier screening: responding to the eugenics critique
title_fullStr Reproductive carrier screening: responding to the eugenics critique
title_full_unstemmed Reproductive carrier screening: responding to the eugenics critique
title_short Reproductive carrier screening: responding to the eugenics critique
title_sort reproductive carrier screening: responding to the eugenics critique
topic Extended Essay
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9726954/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34244346
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2021-107343
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