Prenatal Down Syndrome test a curse

A controversial blood test for detecting Down Syndrome in unborn babies went on the market in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein on Monday. But the test is a curse for those who don't want to make use of every medical option open to them, writes the conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: "In a society where people have long been saying that there is no need nowadays to bring disabled children into the world, many will welcome this test, as it avoids the invasive prenatal tests that are risky for prospective mothers and unborn children. But for those who say no to any sort of selective diagnostics, Praenatest is more a curse than a blessing, and one they must continue to reject although it requires greater courage with every year that passes. True, most disabilities are not genetically determined. But along with 'Down children' not only the boisterous glee that emanates from most of them would disappear. If they disappeared we would also stand to lose our perception of life as a gift."

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Health and Medicine, » Ethics, » Society, » Germany
All available articles from » Daniel Deckers

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, August 21, 2012