Scientist and author Professor Richard Dawkins has caused considerable controversy by stating that it is immoral not to abort a foetus with Down’s Syndrome, http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/aug/21/richard-dawkins-immoral-not-to-abort-a-downs-syndrome-foetus. I have scant knowledge of Down’s Syndrome. I am, however disabled so have a highly personal interest in Dawkin’s comments. Having been born fully sighted I lost the majority of my vision at around 18-months-old as a result of a blood clot on the brain. I have gained a MA in Political Theory and live independently although I must confess to employing a cleaner which stems from my dislike of cleaning rather than the inability to perform household tasks.
As stated earlier, I have scant knowledge of Down’s Syndrome. Due to my lack of understanding I wouldn’t dream of advising women carrying a foetus with Down’s regarding whether the pregnancy should proceed. I most certainly wouldn’t advise a lady facing such a difficult and highly personal decision that they should opt for an abortion as to carry the foetus to term would, in the words of Dawkin’s be “immoral”. The fact is that many parents with Down’s Syndrome children love and cherish them and the danger with Professor Dawkin’s comments is that they can be construed as devaluing people with Down’s Syndrome.
A civilised society should value all people irrespective of disability. Individuals with Down’s will not become leading scientists or world leaders but they are non the less human because of this.
As a disabled person I am used to people making erroneous assumptions regarding my life. I well recollect passing by 2 elderly ladies and hearing one remark “He’s blind” to which I aught to have responded, had I been on the ball “but he isn’t deaf”.
The above comment demonstrates the “pity” which many in society feel towards people with disabilities. In effect such people are putting their own fear of becoming disabled onto people with disabilities. I have, on several occasions had individuals say words to the effect of “I admire you. I don’t know how I would cope in your situation”, failing to realise that I and many other disabled people cope extremely well.
The fear of disability causes people to believe that the lives of Down’s Syndrome individuals and other disabled persons are a constant trial rather than realising that, in many instances our lives are fulfilling.
As stated above I am not an expert on Down’s Syndrome and I am sure that parents of children with Down’s face many issues. However I wouldn’t be arrogant enough to presume to tell potential parents of a Down’s child that they aught (or aught not) to give birth to a baby with the condition. I most certainly wouldn’t tell potential parents that they should abort a foetus with Down’s on the grounds that to carry the pregnancy to term would be “immoral”. Professor Dawkins is a great scientist but ethics and science do not necessarily meet.
K Morris - Poet 
I don’t particularly like Dawkins, and I don’t usually go out of my way to defend the guy. In this context I don’t think that I can really defend the statement about “immorality.” But I think that the kernel at the center of his argument bears some consideration and has some merit.
I don’t think that this is, in general, an argument for disability vs non-disability, or even value vs non-value. I think it’s better to frame it as an issue of quality of life. I won’t for a moment pretend to know what it’s like to blind, and I certainly don’t know what is like to have Down’s Syndrome. However, I believe that a lot of people would argue that a blind person has a much higher quality of life than someone with Down’s.
That isn’t to say that parent’s don’t love their children if they’re born with Down’s Syndrome. But is that love enough to justify a lower quality of life? And again, that isn’t to say that people with Down’s Syndrome all have horrible lives, or that they don’t deserve a chance to do the best they can.
But consider this thought experiment. Let’s say tomorrow, someone told you that you were going to be in a horrible car accident. But they also gave you a choice. You could choose to either have the car accident severely diminish and limit your mental capacity, or you could die. Which would you choose? Most people would probably choose death, because they view the other option as such a lowered quality of life that it wouldn’t be worth surviving.
Of course someone could also argue, as mean as it sounds, that someone with Down’s Syndrome has never experienced a “normal” mental capacity, and therefore ignorance is bliss. But I think the takeaway here is that parents could be “dooming” their child to lead a sub-optimal life. At least that’s how people like Dawkins see it. There might be a bit of truth to that. I don’t have kids, and I can’t say what I would do if faced with the news that my unborn child had Down’s Syndrome.
Anyway, excellent point. Especially about the intersection of science and ethics.
The problem with your thought experiment is that the person making the decision regarding quality of life is not the person who is living that life.
Let me turn it around–suppose that you were told that you were going to be in a horrible car accident and someone else would get to choose if you lived with diminished mental capacity or died, and that you would be given no input into that decision.
I believe that the decision on whether or not a life is worth living belongs with the individual, and with no one else.
“I believe that the decision on whether or not a life is worth living belongs with the individual, and with no one else”. I agree with you Euthanasia has obtained a bad reputation due to the Nazi’s Action T-4 Programme under which thousands of disabled people where murdered or sterilised due to the regime’s belief that they where “useless eaters unworthy of life”. Most proponents of “the right to die” would be horrified at the prospect of forced killings as happened under the Third Reich, however Nazi Germany should give supporters of euthanasia pause for thought, (I know that Ryan isn’t advocating forced killing).
I do agree with you. I wish there were a test where parents new the extent of Downes their child would get. I do know there are plenty of bright people with Downes Syndrome that lead fun & interesting lives though. I don’t know if I could bring a child into the world (just because I wanted one) knowing how much abuse they will have to face every single day from ignorant f@(<s though.
I know what you mean about abuse. As a child I received hurtful comments from other children due to me being blind. However I am still profoundly glad to be alive. I think that attitudes towards people with disabilities have (and, on the whole) continue to improve both as a consequence of education and legislation (the Equalities Act). Thanks for your comment. I was up north from 21 August to 28 August visiting family in Liverpool.