LONDON, May 1, 2001 (LSN.ca) – The British government is proposing genetic screening of babies for all pregnant mothers to detect Down’s syndrome and other disorders. Twenty pilot projects have been set up and the BBC reports that by 2004 all pregnant women will be offered non-invasive Down’s syndrome tests. While the government is attempting to paint the screening tests as beneficial to the babies, the British pro-life group, Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has expressed concern.
A SPUC spokesman commented: “Experience indicates that women who receive positive test results for these conditions are put under great pressure to have abortions. The fact that the pre-natal identification of babies with Down’s syndrome or other anomalies has become a priority of public health is truly sickening because it entails a fatal form of discrimination against those human individuals whom society deems to be unworthy of life.” SPUC also notes that the current Health Minister pushing the screening program, Yvette Cooper, is pro-abortion.
For the BBC coverage see: https://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1304000/1304309.stm