Eugenics 2011

[awake]

Gene test 'predicts 448 child diseases' (http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/01January/Pages/dna-gentic-test-for-parents-before-pregnancy.aspx)

We can predict the future... we can breed better human stock... we promise.

I wonder who will have children when the report comes back with even 1 possible disease? Oh, and I bet the test will be free for the socially undesirable.

[MelissaWV]

Gene test 'predicts 448 child diseases' (http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/01January/Pages/dna-gentic-test-for-parents-before-pregnancy.aspx)

We can predict the future... we can breed better human stock... we promise.

I wonder who will have children when the report comes back with even 1 possible disease? Oh, and I bet the test will be free for the socially undesirable.

What's sad is that this isn't a bad tool all by itself. The assumption here is that parents will terminate a pregnancy that shows a high potential for a "really bad" disease. That happens as it is, but not a ridiculous amount of the time. I don't think this test would lead to a lot of abortions in a free market, but would probably just lead a great deal of parents to better prepare for the problems their child is likely to face. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic.

Factor in the Government, though, and you start to play with fire. What if a parent refuses the test? Is that child abuse, because early detection could have meant the child might get assistance even in utero?

[awake]

If you go ahead and risk a baby with health issues, that will be a "cost" to the heathland security central planners. I can just hear it now,"The social cost is too great to not have every parent tested".