
Down Syndrome Has Almost Been Eliminated In Iceland, And People’s Reactions Are Heartbreaking
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In countries like the US and UK, people with Down syndrome are gaining more visibility year by year. In Iceland, however, they’ve almost completely disappeared. A recent CBS News probe has revealed why only 2 Icelandic children are born with Down syndrome each year on average, and their findings have sparked a fierce ethics debate online.
Landspítali, or the National University Hospital of Iceland, has been offering prenatal screening tests to pregnant women since the early 2000s, an essential step in detecting development problems in a fetus – including Down syndrome. Unlike the estimated 67% of women in the US who choose to terminate their pregnancies upon diagnosis of the disorder, nearly 100% of Icelandic women do so, making Down syndrome extremely rare in the island nation. “My understanding is that we have basically eradicated, almost, Down syndrome from our society,” geneticist Kari Stefansson told CBS.
Contrary to Internet accusations of forced abortions and ‘social cleansing,’ all of these abortions performed in Iceland were completely of the mother’s own volition. “We try to do as neutral counseling as possible, but some people would say that just offering the test is pointing you towards a certain direction,” said head of Landspítali’s Prenatal Diagnosis Unit Hulda Hjartardottir.
Despite the often poor prognosis for children with Down syndrome, and the costs associated with their care that are borne by their families, some are still arguing that their existence should be valued by society, and that terminating all Down’s pregnancies is unethical.
Scroll down to learn more, and tell us your thoughts at the end.
Down syndrome is disappearing in Iceland, with only 2 affected children being born each year on average
Unlike the estimated 67% of US women who terminate their pregnancies upon diagnosis of the disorder, nearly 100% of Icelandic women do so
“My understanding is that we have basically eradicated, almost, Down syndrome from our society,” says geneticist Kari Stefansson
These statistics come straight from the National University Hospital of Iceland, where 70% of Icelandic children are born
Despite Internet accusations that these abortions are forced, each one is completely by choice, as mothers do receive neutral counseling
Watch this CBS News video for more information:
In response, people have been sharing stories of their own loved ones living with Down syndrome
Some have even expressly condemned the Icelandic phenomenon, dubbing it ‘eugenics’
Others, however, were able to see through the eyes of an expectant mother faced with an impossible decision
Wrong or reasonable? Tell us your view on the issue in the comments below!
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This is the same debate as abortion in general. Call it selfish, but some people have certain expectations about the kind of life they want to live. If someone is prepared to be a parent but is not prepared to hold their child's hand all the way into their 30's and to countless therapy sessions, then they should be able to make an honest decision about that rather than start compromising their life as well as others'. A child born into a family of doubts already has two strikes against it and that's not fair to the child. This is just as immoral as choosing what kind of dog you want, rather than just going to the pound and taking any mutt they give. Those who ARE willing to put forth their time as parents or as volunteers to support lives of lesser fortune should be venerated as saints among us, but that means we also must accept that not everyone will be that strong. That doesn't mean they are bad people, it just means they are honest about their limitations as mere humans.
THIS. And not every DS child is the same, they have a spectrum of abilities and lack of abilities and may have other health issues that impact their quality of life.
Exactly. Too many people hold up the poster child examples; the ones who are able to live independently, learn to read, perhaps get an education, go into acting and such. Very few mention the large number of DS miscarriages, or the large number of serious health issues like heart problems, problems with muscle tone leading to kids who can't suckle or swallow, walk or speak, heightened risk of a number of serious, chronic health problems. And that a significant number of DS score so low on testing that the term "unteachable" come into play - meaning you can't ever hope for things to improve. Not everyone is able to handle the sort of unrelenting, unappreciated, backbreaking effort needed to care for such a child - especially given that a lot of them have to be put into care because the parents can't handle them when they grow up and become too physically strong to control. :'(
I can't see how eugenics is something to be proud of. I agree with the others that have said eliminated the people with the disorder is not the same is eliminating the disorder.
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Tell me again how "disability" invalidates a Human Being's RIGHT ti LIVE Their Life... If I can "terminate" a Prenatal DS baby at 25 weeks.. why can't I terminate a Postnatal DS baby for the Same reasons?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
CounterPunch, sadly that is the direction we are heading. There is no biological difference between an unborn baby and a born baby. Why not introduce fourth trimester abortions now? If disabled people aren’t fit for life, who else will we deem not fit for life? Who will be next to have their rights taken away? If we don’t learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it.
I applaud you. I don't care what people choose. Honestly, though, I'm still a teen, and maybe my mind will change: I want to be a parent, but I don't want to be a caregiver for fifty years and be whittled down. Those who choose to do this are saints, but not everyone can do it. .Nor does everyone want to do it. Everyone has different limitations.
I should add: I have an special needs brother with autism, who is at a third grade reading level. My family and I love him to death, but I can tell having to help him all the time can be extremely tiring for my parents, and I'm not too sure what the future holds for him.
People always assume that it is an easy choice for a mother to terminate her pregnancy. lets say she has 3 children and the 2nd one has DS. is it fair to the other children. If a mother thinks she can or cannot handle a DS child ,that is her decision, no one gets to judge.
Reasonable explanation. Not bringing any child into the world when their upbringing and the ability to provide them the resources they need is a responsible and humane act. The resources it takes to provide for those with these types of handicaps most often pull resources away from other children, family members, and society as a whole. It, of course, does not mean these children, if born, are any less deserving of love or giving love. People need to stop suggesting that is the reasoning behind termination decisions. Such thinking is wholly irresponsible and reflect a lack of understanding of those who make such assumptions.
" This is just as immoral as choosing what kind of dog you want" compares ending a life to choosing a dog at the pound. You rationalization is amazing.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
It's the selfish nature in people
I personally don't think it's any of my business what other people do with their lives. If I was pregnant, and I was ready to be a parent, and the doctor said my baby would have Down Syndrome, I wouldn't get an abortion. But, that's me. Not everyone has the same opinion about things and not everyone feels the same. If it were the government forcing those women to get abortions, I would definitely not support it. But, these women are getting abortions of their own volition so I have no choice but to support them. They're exercising their rights.
I have a 23 year old with Downssyndrome I refused the tests with all 5 of mine coz I wouldn't terminate a pregnancy.Yes I was devastated after she was born but I wouldn't change a thing about her.Doctoright think they know what's best for pregnant mothers and I think they try and force us to have these tests for their own piece of mind.
They forced you? Than how come you were able to refuse? Make your mind woman.
"I personally don't think it's any of my business what other people do with their lives." Except it isn't JUST Their Life... funny how everyone Ignores the Life that is Killed simply because it is Less than "perfect".... The cognitive dissonance in some of these comments is disturbing...
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Being legal and being and being morally wrong are not mutually exclusive. Being legal only means that the government allows you to do something, regardless of whether it is right or wrong. It is legal to go to grieving families and laugh and taunt them for the loss of their family members. Do you, therefore, have no choice but to support such a thing?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Yep just because abortion´s legal that doesn´t mean that the life of a "disabled" child´s worth less than the life of ANY other child, in my opinion abortion should only be legal if the life of the pregnant mother and/or the life of the baby´s in direct danger and if a c-section wouldn´t help either, or when the pregnancy´s the result of rape or sexual abuse, you can´t demand of a raped woman or a sexually abused girl to give birh to the child of the offender, she´d only see him in her own child´s eyes all the time and the trauma´d never end if she had to!!!
There is nothing wrong in getting tested. Termination or no termination at least the mother will have time to decide and prepare. Ethics my ass. Science is no fluke, It takes time and lot of money to develop better testing procedure with lots and lots of dead ends. Nothing comes easy or perfectly. Most of the times best solutions, are not ideal solutions. (Sorry went a little off topic)
My youngest child had what is usually a familial eye tumor, found when she was 5 months old. In her case, it was a fluke. The first 5 years were hard, and she lost that eye at 18 months. I always reminded mylself, ‘At least it’s not a cognitive problem,’ counting my blessings all the way. Today, this child is grown, married, a parent and doing wonderfully. Today, I oversee my mother’s properties, medical appointments and finances, because she has dementia. The time involved in the tasks required keep me from working a ‘real’ job. So, I guess I’m saying I see it from both sides, and have deep sympathy no matter what choices a family makes, if they’re able to. Blessings.
This is the same debate as abortion in general. Call it selfish, but some people have certain expectations about the kind of life they want to live. If someone is prepared to be a parent but is not prepared to hold their child's hand all the way into their 30's and to countless therapy sessions, then they should be able to make an honest decision about that rather than start compromising their life as well as others'. A child born into a family of doubts already has two strikes against it and that's not fair to the child. This is just as immoral as choosing what kind of dog you want, rather than just going to the pound and taking any mutt they give. Those who ARE willing to put forth their time as parents or as volunteers to support lives of lesser fortune should be venerated as saints among us, but that means we also must accept that not everyone will be that strong. That doesn't mean they are bad people, it just means they are honest about their limitations as mere humans.
THIS. And not every DS child is the same, they have a spectrum of abilities and lack of abilities and may have other health issues that impact their quality of life.
Exactly. Too many people hold up the poster child examples; the ones who are able to live independently, learn to read, perhaps get an education, go into acting and such. Very few mention the large number of DS miscarriages, or the large number of serious health issues like heart problems, problems with muscle tone leading to kids who can't suckle or swallow, walk or speak, heightened risk of a number of serious, chronic health problems. And that a significant number of DS score so low on testing that the term "unteachable" come into play - meaning you can't ever hope for things to improve. Not everyone is able to handle the sort of unrelenting, unappreciated, backbreaking effort needed to care for such a child - especially given that a lot of them have to be put into care because the parents can't handle them when they grow up and become too physically strong to control. :'(
I can't see how eugenics is something to be proud of. I agree with the others that have said eliminated the people with the disorder is not the same is eliminating the disorder.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Tell me again how "disability" invalidates a Human Being's RIGHT ti LIVE Their Life... If I can "terminate" a Prenatal DS baby at 25 weeks.. why can't I terminate a Postnatal DS baby for the Same reasons?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
CounterPunch, sadly that is the direction we are heading. There is no biological difference between an unborn baby and a born baby. Why not introduce fourth trimester abortions now? If disabled people aren’t fit for life, who else will we deem not fit for life? Who will be next to have their rights taken away? If we don’t learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it.
I applaud you. I don't care what people choose. Honestly, though, I'm still a teen, and maybe my mind will change: I want to be a parent, but I don't want to be a caregiver for fifty years and be whittled down. Those who choose to do this are saints, but not everyone can do it. .Nor does everyone want to do it. Everyone has different limitations.
I should add: I have an special needs brother with autism, who is at a third grade reading level. My family and I love him to death, but I can tell having to help him all the time can be extremely tiring for my parents, and I'm not too sure what the future holds for him.
People always assume that it is an easy choice for a mother to terminate her pregnancy. lets say she has 3 children and the 2nd one has DS. is it fair to the other children. If a mother thinks she can or cannot handle a DS child ,that is her decision, no one gets to judge.
Reasonable explanation. Not bringing any child into the world when their upbringing and the ability to provide them the resources they need is a responsible and humane act. The resources it takes to provide for those with these types of handicaps most often pull resources away from other children, family members, and society as a whole. It, of course, does not mean these children, if born, are any less deserving of love or giving love. People need to stop suggesting that is the reasoning behind termination decisions. Such thinking is wholly irresponsible and reflect a lack of understanding of those who make such assumptions.
" This is just as immoral as choosing what kind of dog you want" compares ending a life to choosing a dog at the pound. You rationalization is amazing.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
It's the selfish nature in people
I personally don't think it's any of my business what other people do with their lives. If I was pregnant, and I was ready to be a parent, and the doctor said my baby would have Down Syndrome, I wouldn't get an abortion. But, that's me. Not everyone has the same opinion about things and not everyone feels the same. If it were the government forcing those women to get abortions, I would definitely not support it. But, these women are getting abortions of their own volition so I have no choice but to support them. They're exercising their rights.
I have a 23 year old with Downssyndrome I refused the tests with all 5 of mine coz I wouldn't terminate a pregnancy.Yes I was devastated after she was born but I wouldn't change a thing about her.Doctoright think they know what's best for pregnant mothers and I think they try and force us to have these tests for their own piece of mind.
They forced you? Than how come you were able to refuse? Make your mind woman.
"I personally don't think it's any of my business what other people do with their lives." Except it isn't JUST Their Life... funny how everyone Ignores the Life that is Killed simply because it is Less than "perfect".... The cognitive dissonance in some of these comments is disturbing...
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Being legal and being and being morally wrong are not mutually exclusive. Being legal only means that the government allows you to do something, regardless of whether it is right or wrong. It is legal to go to grieving families and laugh and taunt them for the loss of their family members. Do you, therefore, have no choice but to support such a thing?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Yep just because abortion´s legal that doesn´t mean that the life of a "disabled" child´s worth less than the life of ANY other child, in my opinion abortion should only be legal if the life of the pregnant mother and/or the life of the baby´s in direct danger and if a c-section wouldn´t help either, or when the pregnancy´s the result of rape or sexual abuse, you can´t demand of a raped woman or a sexually abused girl to give birh to the child of the offender, she´d only see him in her own child´s eyes all the time and the trauma´d never end if she had to!!!
There is nothing wrong in getting tested. Termination or no termination at least the mother will have time to decide and prepare. Ethics my ass. Science is no fluke, It takes time and lot of money to develop better testing procedure with lots and lots of dead ends. Nothing comes easy or perfectly. Most of the times best solutions, are not ideal solutions. (Sorry went a little off topic)
My youngest child had what is usually a familial eye tumor, found when she was 5 months old. In her case, it was a fluke. The first 5 years were hard, and she lost that eye at 18 months. I always reminded mylself, ‘At least it’s not a cognitive problem,’ counting my blessings all the way. Today, this child is grown, married, a parent and doing wonderfully. Today, I oversee my mother’s properties, medical appointments and finances, because she has dementia. The time involved in the tasks required keep me from working a ‘real’ job. So, I guess I’m saying I see it from both sides, and have deep sympathy no matter what choices a family makes, if they’re able to. Blessings.