Saving Downs and the International Down Syndrome Coalition condemn the promotion of eugenics by Whanganui District Health Board member Michael Laws.
Laws made a public statement on his Facebook page on the 8th December stating that eradicating Down syndrome would be “a bloody fantastic achievement”.
His public statements are false and deeply offensive.
The full text of the public statement is:
“I think most women, having discovered they’re carrying a Downs Syndrome foetus, would abort. Dear Lord, very natural reaction.
Incredibly though there are a group of DS activists (the parents of) who want to DENY this test to expectant mothers because they think it has the potential to eradicate Downs Syndrome. And I’m thinking: what a bloody fantastic achievement that would be. Next: multiple sclerosis.”
This was followed by numerous other public statements on Facebook including:
“I’ll be publishing my views to a much wider audience on the critical need to retain and promote the DS test for pregnant women and offering them easier access to abortions if they test positive, in my Sunday column this week. I see that the abortion rate, once testing positive for suspected Downs, is 91-93% in most western countries so it’s not just an Enzed reaction. If we could eradicate all severe disabilities from humankind then that would be a good thing: save much suffering and heartache. The mapping of the genome project opens that door to improving future human health.”
Accurate information is important. In New Zealand around half of our pregnant women don’t even test for Down syndrome. Of the half that does test, accurate numbers that choose to abort are not known. We do, of course, have many supporters in New Zealand who had positive tests and continued with their pregnancies.
Suggesting that parents don’t want children with Down syndrome is incorrect and hurtful to millions of families. It lowers the dignity of all of our loved ones who have Down syndrome.
There are no Down syndrome organisations in New Zealand that “want to deny this test” (in reference to prenatal screening tests).
The view that eradicating Down syndrome would be “a bloody fantastic achievement” offends the most basic principles of human rights, which recognise the inherent dignity and value of all human life without discrimination. Promoting the eradication of people with Down syndrome from society is eugenics and has no place in civilised society.
People with Down syndrome are to be afforded basic human respect on an equal basis with all members of our society.
Laws has also publically stated:
“I will continue to support the right of women to test for DS (in fact, I will encourage it) and to abort if they test positive”.
Saving Downs is concerned that encouraging screening and abortions for Down syndrome may breach Ministry of Health policy, the Health and Disability Code of Rights and the relevant provisions of the Crimes Act. We have lodged a formal complaint with the Whanganui District Health Board regarding his position on the board.
We have also formally raised our concerns in this matter with the Disability Commissioner and the Minister for Disability issues.
We have no desire to direct further attention towards Laws’ views other than addressing any false information that is being messaged.
Our focus remains, as always, on upholding dignity, love and respect for our children without discrimination.
Very good-thanks Mike
Excellent, Mike. You are right on the ball here.
I can think of no other area of public health where it is acceptable to recommend the “eradication” of a condition by intentionally terminating the lives of defenceless human beings with that condition.
surely this man doesn’t know well people or children with DS. I have a little boy, with me in this photo, who is lively, healthy and sweet, I can not imagine my life without him..to kill people or children is never a good idea..all parents of DS children have the right and the mission to react..sorry for my English..these children have something more than the other children, they can love more for example.I hope many people will reply strongly to this man who wants abortion as a fixed condition.
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A genetic expert has announced groundbreaking research
that outlines the DNA that determines the key awe-inspiring attributes of human
development. The research is expected to revolutionize the lives of thousands
of people.
Professor Yur Awesum is a senior genetic researcher at the Tufts
Medical Centre and
presented his research at the Harvard Medical School today. In his comments
Prof. Awesum said:
“Our
research has determined that a particular part of the 21st chromosome contains DNA
that determines positive human attributes such as joyousness, unconditional
love, compassion, Presence and a general “coolness” about accepting life as it
is.
What is particularly
interesting about this research is that there are certain people who have
additional 21st chromosomes who appear to have a
greater abundance of these positive attributes. Paradoxically, they also seem
to have an absence of negative attributes such as being judgemental or showing
any degree of malice”.
“Research
also indicates that having an awesome person in your life is a deeply enriching
experience that is pretty awesome”.
As these additional awe-inspiring attributes appear to be
symptomatic of the people with extra 21st chromosomes,
researchers have decided to call such a condition Awesome syndrome after Prof.
Yur Awesum. Doctors have agreed universally to refer to people gifted with
additional 21st chromosomes as “Awesomes”.
Prof.
Awesum also outlined that Awesomes have some unique physical traits: “We have
observed that Awesomes have stunning almond shaped eyes. It is often said that
the eye is the gateway to the soul, and Awesomes have the most amazing eyes.
How cool is that?”
Awesum
noted that Awesome syndrome was a natural part of the human condition and
historically has been recognised as a phenomenally good thing to have:
“We know from our research that the Olmec culture worshiped Awesomes as early as
1500 BCE.”
“Angels with Awesome syndrome are depicted in a 1515 rendition of the Adoration of the Christ Child. It doesn’t get any cooler than that”.
The discovery has perfect timing according to Prof.
Awesum:
“In recent times being Awesome has been seen as un-cool
by many in my profession”.
It is understood that Awesum was particularly disappointed with
recent comments made by fellow Tufts genetic researcher Diana Bianchi, who has
been quoted as saying:
“Being Awesome is a disappointment”.
Yur
Awesum is believed to have said in response to Bianchi:
“If your Awesome, you are awesome. That is it. How can
being awesome be disappointing? It makes no sense, what is that all about?”
Prof.
Awesum indicated that genetic advances made it possible to identify whether
someone would be Awesome before they were born and that this opened up
interesting possibilities:
“Some parents may want to know their child is going to be
Awesome. For some this will give them plenty of time to save some money and
arrange an extra special welcoming party for the birth”.
He also
noted that:
“When parents learn that their child will be Awesome,
they are often overcome with such elation that they can lose focus on practical
day-to-day matters. 7 months may give some parents enough time to overcome
their initial elation to a degree that they can return to basic functions such
as preparing a cot and painting the baby’s room”
“Other parents may still be so spaced-out with joy that
they made need additional support with simple tasks like changing nappies”.
Prof.
Awesum did caution however, that knowing in advance that your child will be
Awesome does carry some challenges:
“Unfortunately, to be sure that your child will be
Awesome before they are born, we need to stick a big needle into your tummy.
Sometimes we jab your baby by mistake and you may lose them’.
“Losing something that is Awesome would be
dissapointing”.
When
asked how his discovery may impact on attitudes towards normal people, Yur
Awesum said:
“Normal is a setting on a washing machine. People aren’t washing machines”
“Look, at the end of the day, we need to be careful that parents
with normal children are not disappointed. Being normal isn’t a big thing. We
just need to learn to accept things as they are. It is what it is”.
Awesum
concluded his presentation with the reflection:
“We have always known there are Awesomes, but now we can
trace the cause through their DNA. We must be careful though to recognise that
all humans have dignity, simply by being human, not just those who are
particularly awesome”.
In is
understood that Prof. Yur Awesome will be honored with the Havard award for
service to humanity for his ground breaking discovery.
Yea they are so unhappy!
My down syndrome aunty’s name is Glenice….she is a 60 yr old woman who loves life and all those around her…..she well known in our community, works at a local hairdressers,represented our country at special olympics, and has travelled the world……she brings a smile to our faces……..she was treated no differently from her 4 other siblings right from the start. I am blessed that she is in my life
What a blessing to see all the kind notes. I am a blessed man!
http://www.sandiegodownsyndrome.org
http://www.donatebookssandiego.com
Donate your used books today
Another man who thought the eradication of people with disabilitys from human kind would be a good idea was hitler and we all know what kind of man he was who is this man to say that the total eradication of a group of people from society would be a good thing people with DS cause no harm at all to society if anything they help to improve it by teaching people acceptance patents love and respect for one another my little brother is 3yrs old with DS and he is beautiful smart and loving Infact he is more advanced than some of the “normal” children in his nursery class he counts to 15, says the full alphabet, signs ,uses computers and tablets better than most adults and a million other things I could go on about all in all I want to know why this man thinks it would be a good thing to eradicate DS and what negative impacts he thinks people with DS have on society because I can’t think of any at all
What an idiot that man is. You cannot “eradiate” Down’s syndrome. its not smallpox, or polio, its a genetic condition that can arise spontaneously. How can he be a “health Board Member” if he has so little basic medical knowledge.
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