Denmark has seen a disturbing trend in the number of babies born with Down syndrome. In 2019, only 18 babies were born with this condition, marking the lowest number since 1970. This is despite the establishment of a central registry in 1970 to monitor certain genetic conditions. The Copenhagen Post has reported on this alarming decline.
Denmark is not alone in fostering discriminatory practices. Many countries have experienced a similar increase in the number of preborn babies with Down syndrome. It is a matter of great concern that the latest figures reflect a growing trend of parents terminating the lives of their children with Down syndrome through abortion.
The Copenhagen Post reports that in 2004, Denmark’s national healthcare system began offering all pregnant women genetic screening. Between 2004 and 2005, the number of children born with Down syndrome was reduced by approximately 50% due to the increased number of mothers who chose to terminate their pregnancies. Since then, approximately 30 children with Down syndrome have been born in Denmark each year. The aforementioned statistics are indeed alarming, yet Denmark is lagging behind other nations that have claimed to have “eliminated” Down syndrome by encouraging all mothers of babies who may have Down syndrome to end the baby’s life through abortion.
The practice of legal abortion has historically been closely associated with the eugenics movement, which erroneously asserted that only individuals deemed healthy and genetically pure had a right to life. Despite the availability of legal abortion on demand for decades, the abortion industry continues to maintain a close relationship with eugenics. It is noteworthy that no nation on Earth has successfully developed a method to correct the genetic abnormalities associated with Down syndrome. Instead, there are only a few nations that have chosen to terminate more pregnancies than others.
While some countries, such as Iceland, tout the elimination of Down syndrome through prenatal testing and selective termination of affected pregnancies, the latest Danish statistics included the perspective of Down syndrome advocates, who expressed concern about the implications of the findings. Grete Fält-Hansen, the head of Denmark’s national Down syndrome organization, informed news outlets that many individuals experience a sense of disengagement when they are informed that their child may have Down syndrome. The response is often one of dismay and a decision to terminate the pregnancy.
This reaction is further compounded by the frequently grim picture painted by medical teams, who often present the worst-case scenario or actively pressure parents to choose abortion. Some parents are even ridiculed for choosing life.
Fält-Hansen proceeded to elucidate the objective of the endeavor: to ascertain the legitimacy of the decision. The recently unveiled figures necessitate that the health authority assume accountability and furnish updated and nuanced data. It is imperative that a society not resort to abortion as a default response to a diagnosis.
It is unfortunate that the legalisation of abortion and the eugenic implications of this practice have already led to the emergence of a society in which abortion is a common occurrence. Despite the widespread misuse of genetic screening, many parents are under pressure to terminate their child’s life at the slightest indication of disability or genetic anomaly.
In addition to the tragic loss of human life that occurs when babies with Down syndrome are killed in the womb, there are numerous adverse consequences for children and adults who have Down syndrome. In a culture that devalues a preborn baby with Down syndrome and views it as less worthy of life than others, the value of all people with the condition is called into question. It is now perceived as offensive and inappropriate to simply show people with Down syndrome smiling and enjoying their lives.
It is encouraging to observe that individuals with Down syndrome are leading the charge to defend all human life, regardless of potential disability. Vibrant young adults like Julie Tennant are challenging stereotypes and raising awareness about the numerous positive aspects of living with Down syndrome, thereby contributing a unique perspective to the world. Studies indicate that the overwhelming majority of individuals with Down syndrome are happy, secure, and enjoy their lives. Although many individuals with Down syndrome face health challenges, including heart defects associated with the condition, they are not defined by their diagnosis and are not any less worthy of life.
In accordance with the current legislation in Texas, infants who may be diagnosed with Down syndrome are not afforded the same protections as other vulnerable populations from discriminatory abortion practices. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, a staunch defender of life, has previously highlighted the Preborn Nondiscrimination Act (Pre-NDA) as a potential avenue for furthering the cause of life. Failure to safeguard the most vulnerable and to challenge the inhumane eugenics inherent in abortion will result in the United States following the example of Denmark and other nations that permit discriminatory abortions.
Every individual, regardless of genetic anomaly or disability, is entitled to the right to life from the moment of conception.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
