History Of Prenatal Screening

By ezowens

  • Research Begins; Frederick Osbom, Theodosius Dobzhansky, and eugenics partners begin supporting research to reduce the amount of children born with disorders.

    Frederick Osbom, Theodosius Dobzhansky, and eugenics partners begin supporting research to reduce the amount of children born with disorders.
  • Period: to

    Timespan

  • National Institutes of Health Organization began researching ways to find genetic birth defects before the child is born

  • American Eugenics Society pays attention to prenatal testing

    American Eugenics Society begins paying attention to prenatal screening research

  • Disability-Rights-Movement

    by the 1970's, the disabilities rights movement was made and changed peoples opinions on prenatal testing.

  • Down Syndrome Decreases... But Abortion Increases

    By 1972 down syndrome rates decreased but the abortion increased significantly. Osborn and partners made this happen.

  • Hircshorn refers to abortion as "negative eugenics"

  • ABORTION SKY ROCKETS!

    "The 1976 genetics law authorized aid to states for genetic-testing services. By now, many states have encouraged prenatal testing for decades. Combined with pressures from state courts and the private medical establishment, this has institutionalized eugenics in a profound way. When testing indicates Down syndrome or anencephaly, abortion rates soar to 80-90 percent or even
    higher.'"'

  • ETHICS! Dr. Owellian aises the issue of aborting twins, one child who is disabled and leaving the other, unharmed child to live.

    Dr. Owellian raises the issue of aborting twins, one child who is disabled and leaving the other, unharmed child to live.

  • More ETHICS! At Jefferson Medical Collegein Philadelphia, writers wrote, "Many couples question the level of 'consciousness' that the remaining fetuses have and wonder if the remaining fetuses somehow know that one oftheir potential sibs was terminated. T

    More ETHICS! At Jefferson Medical Collegein Philadelphia, writers wrote, "Many couples question the level of 'consciousness' that the remaining fetuses have and wonder if the remaining fetuses somehow know that one oftheir potential sibs was terminated. These couples wonder if children whoremain will, as they grow, be a constant reminder of the fetuses that wereterminated.'"*

  • Congressed passed a law!!!

    "Congress passed a law in 2008 to improve information and support for parents who fmd, before or after birth, that their children have handicaps. The law authorizes a telephone hotline for parents; expansion of a govemment information center on childhood disabilities; expansion of peer-support programs for parents; a registry of families who are willing to adopt children with handicaps; and "awareness and education programs" for health-care professionals."