Kill Bill

WE hold these Truths to be self-evident,
that all Men are created equal

In a commentary article on MSNBC yesterday
by Arthur Caplan, the director of the Center for Bioethics at
the University of Pennsylvania:
"Advances in prenatal genetic testing pose tough questions"

There is a discussion of genetic testing and autism, with the
emphasis on what might happen if a genetic test for milder
forms of Autism were developed soon, and speculates on what might
happen if geniuses who are suspected of having Asperger’s syndrome
(a milder form of Autism) were prevented from ever being born
in the first place.

While it's commendable that the article actually brings up the
issue of genetic testing and abortion, it's inexcusable for
a "bioethicist" to leave the impression that there's any valid
choice in such situations other than to allow a child to be born.

The article questions whether or not there may be a greater reason
not to prevent a child from being born if there's a chance they might
become a genius.

This is the sad state of ethics today. Even the remotest implication
that someone is more worthy of being born because they might grow up
to become a genius is pathetic, or conversely, that someone is less
worthy because they're not a genius - or more to the point, simply
because they're not perfect.

One might wonder how an article like this could avoid using the
term "abortion". Perhaps it's to avoid the truth. The truth
is that abortion based on genetic testing is nothing less than a form of
Eugenics, and there is a very slippery slope from allowing the personal
"choice" of abortion to state-sponsored Eugenics.

Before you think that's an extremely ominous admonition, remember that
the nation that had the largest eugenics movement after Nazi
Germany was the United States. Genetic testing has made it
all too easy for people today to rationalize abortion.
See another article by Arthur Caplan
"Predictions for a new millennium
Breaking Bioethics offers a look into the crystal ball"
for his own wary prediction regarding Eugenics.

Yet another ominous example of the trend today can be found in a
recent article:
"Abortion is Primary Direction for Obstetricians After Down's Diagnosis Study Finds".