The widely accepted definition of eugenics is that it is the science of human species improvement through the institution of selective mating among the specific group of people who have desirable hereditary traits. While reading about Nazi eugenics and the United States eugenics, I realized that in both cases, the aim is to eliminate a specific group of individuals, who the politically empowered individuals feel might result in not so healthy future generations. Although eugenics in America gained negativity when it was associated with the Nazis, there is no significant difference between the beliefs that both movements hold. For instance, why would the American society want to eliminate anyone that fell out of the social norm? Most critics could argue that it is the same reason that pushed Adolf Hitler to want to create a superior Aryan race (Ross, 2018).
Going through the various articles discussing eugenics, I felt that the concept of eugenics is a violation of the fundamental human right of reproduction and it also incorporates racism in it. This is because, in America, those who were regarded to be genetically unfit for reproduction were either poor, immigrants or minorities. Its therefore evident that this is not just mere care of bad genes, but rather a complicated issue whose ultimate consequence was forced sterilizations on minorities and individuals with mental illnesses. Laws were even passed in several states permitting the eugenic sterilization (Denhoed, 2016). However, although sterilization in America seems horrific, it doesn’t compare to Hilter’s actions during World War II where more than 11 million people died as he attempted to create a superior race (Ross, 2018).
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
In the modern world, eugenics is often referred to as genetic engineering, and even though it is a pillar in the treatment of most severe chronic illnesses, the issue remains controversial. Although eugenics is not a thing in the contemporary world, genetic engineering is a way of improving the body, curing or preventing diseases through the removal of specific genes. Technological advancements in the modern world have seen parents conduct genetic tests for the in-utero child, to determine the presence of any form of genetic illnesses and thereby lead to pregnancy termination. This is especially true for Down Syndrome, where the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all women should undergo screening before the 20 th week gestation period.
This screening is similar to the eugenics movement in the past because once the parents have been notified that there is a high likelihood that the child will have Down Syndrome, the parents are given an option to terminate the pregnancy. Eugenics movement in the past focused on the elimination of undesirable traits, which is the primary goal of the Down Syndrome screening program. The screening process differs from the eugenics movement in that the persons are not forced to terminate the pregnancy, but are somewhat rationally counseled by qualified medical professionals (Messerlian & Palomak, 2015), which is not evident in the eugenics movements of the past.
The most significant impact of the current screening to the whole society is the reduction of the number of Down syndrome births, and thereby its reduced prevalence (Messerlian & Palomak, 2015). Also, the financial burden associated with the care of children with Down syndrome is massive, and hence this screening helps the healthcare system, as well as the family, prepare for the care of the child if a decision is made to proceed with the pregnancy. Due to the emotional and economic impacts associated with raising a Down syndrome child, I think that the genetic screening for the pregnant women has a positive effect on the society and the healthcare system in general, although the ethical issues surrounding the issue are numerous.
References
Denhoed, A. (2016). The Forgotten Lessons of the American Eugenics Movement. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-forgotten-lessons-of-the-american-eugenics-movement
Messerlian, G. M., & Palomak, G. E. (2015). Down syndrome: Overview of prenatal screening. Retrieved from https://gu-msn.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/N518-Ethics/Toolbox/DownSyndrome_UpToDate.pdf?forcedownload=1
Ross, A. (2018). How American Racism Influenced Hitler. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/30/how-american-racism-influenced-hitler
