Richard Dawkins: ‘It Would Be Immoral’ to Give Birth to a Child with Down’s Syndrome
Richard Dawkins inflamed the British internet last night when he suggested that it would be “immoral” to continue carrying a fetus to full term, if genetic screening proved that it carried the gene for Down’s Syndrome.
His suggestion came in response to a woman who didn’t know what she’d do if she were pregnant with a child with Down’s: “Abort it and try again,” he suggested. “It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice.”
With the advent of genetic screening, the practice is fairly common in England and Wales: The Telegraph estimates that nearly 1000 abortions due to Downs Syndrome are performed per year.
“Apparently I’m a horrid monster for recommending WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS to the great majority of Down Syndrome fetuses,” Dawkins tweeted much later, after the internet collectively exploded at him:
In point of fact, a majority of Down Syndrome fetuses in Europe and USA are aborted. What I recommended is not outlandish but the norm.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
There's a profound moral difference between "This fetus should now be aborted" and "This person should have been aborted years ago."
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
Most countries accept a woman's right to abort. Elementary moral philosophy says this does NOT cast doubt on existing people's right to life
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
If you don't understand the point, look up "The Great Beethoven Fallacy" in The God Delusion.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
So, is anyone who doesn't follow Roman Catholic "morality" on abortion beyond the pale? Well I'm proud to be beyond that particular pale.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
Down syndrome screening is NOT eugenic. Almost always caused by non-hereditary chromosomal abnormality, heavily influenced by maternal age.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
I do not for one moment apologise for approaching moral philosophic questions in a logical way. There's a place for emotion & this isn't it.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
And he took pains to mention that he wasn’t telling all women to abort their babies if they carried the gene:
A woman whom I know & like said she'd be uncertain what to do if pregnant with Downs. I said what I'd do & why. Happens to be what most do.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
Woman said she wouldn't know whether to abort. I told her what I would do & why. I OBVIOUSLY wouldn't TELL a woman what to do. Up to her.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
If I were a woman with a DS fetus I personally would abort. So do most women in fact. If you wouldn't, good luck to you, it's your decision,
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
[The Telegraph]
[Image via Albert H. Teich / Shutterstock.com]
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