The third Friday in May has been declared Endangered Species Day, and May 20, 2011 marked the sixth annual observation. In the preamble to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Congress provided reasons as to why saving species is so important – because these species “are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the Nation and its people.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service provides specific reasons why species conservation is needed:
- Benefits of natural diversity
- Contributions to medicine
- Biodiversity and agriculture
- Environmental monitors
- Ecosystem services
- Other economic values
- Intangible values
I took biology back in the day, but I decided I’d look up the definition of “species,” just for kicks.
spe·cies
[spee-sheez, -seez] noun, plural -cies, adjective
–noun
1. a class of individuals having some common characteristics or qualities; distinct sort or kind.
2. Biology . the major subdivision of a genus or subgenus, regarded as the basic category of biological classification, composed of related individuals that resemble one another, are able to breed among themselves, but are not able to breed with members of another species
(Note: There are a few other definitions I haven’t included, but I don’t think that the USFWS or the authors of the ESA had the Christian church or all of humankind in mind when they drafted it.)
A quick search on the National Fish & Wildlife Service website told me that there are well over 100 species of plants and animals just in my state on the endangered species list. You know what I didn’t find on the list?
People with Down syndrome.
People with Down syndrome have some common characteristics or qualities; they are a distinct sort or kind – a plus, since the USFWS considers natural diversity to be a good thing. Children with Down syndrome are more likely to develop acute myeloid leukemia than their peers, but they are also more responsive to chemotherapy – I’d say that’s a potential medical research gold mine. And of course, people with Down syndrome have “intangible value,” as well (remember that I didn’t put that on the USFWS’s list – they did).
On March 8, 2011, an article was published in the Calgary Herald, entitled “Down’s syndrome test breakthrough on the horizon” [emphasis mine]:
A less risky non-invasive procedure based on maternal DNA to diagnose Down syndrome could be generally available to pregnant women by 2013, a Cyprus researcher said Tuesday.
“Down’s Syndrome, or Trisomy 21, is the most common cause of mental retardation with an incidence of one in 600 births,” Philippos Patsalis of the Institute of Neurology and Genetics in Nicosia told reporters.
“This method can apply to all pregnancies not only those at risk,” he added, describing it as “one of the most important milestones in the history of the institute.”
He said the cheaper and quicker method of blood sampling rather than collecting fluid from the womb will encourage more couples to take the test and therefore slowly eradicate the disease.
“There is no cure, so this is a test for couples who want to know and prevent it, they are the ones who must decide on the fate of the pregnancy.”
Down syndrome isn’t a disease. It isn’t inherited. It’s caused by a random occurrence that can’t be predicted. A random occurrence that happens before that plus sign will appear on a pregnancy test. A random occurrence that can’t be prevented.
Note that the article made no mention of the test offering mothers and fathers the ability to prepare for the birth of a child with Down syndrome. It instead used a compassionate sounding, but grossly dishonest, euphemism about eradicating a disease, when what he’s really talking about is a test that will make it easier to prevent people who have Down syndrome from being born, after they have already been conceived.
“The test can be easily introduced into every genetic diagnostic lab in the world,” he said.
Patsalis said his team is also researching modifying the method so it can be used to test for other genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
Is my son part of an endangered species?
You tell me.
And while you’re considering that question, also be sure to ask yourself : Who will be next?
Further Reading:
Endangered Species (Mercator.net)
Down Syndrome Babies: An Endangered Species
[Note: In some parts of the world, it is customary to use the term “Down’s syndrome,” as in this article. In the U.S., “Down syndrome” is the appropriate phrasing; it was named for John Langdon Down because he discovered it – he didn’t have it.]
I’m so so bothered by this (I read about it awhile back and was sick to my stomach). The eugenics it smacks of is just wrong. In so many ways. A very close friend has a daughter with autism and she said the same thing as you, next it will be kids with autism they’re looking to rid the world of.
Your last statement makes me think of Martin Niemoller:
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Niemoller’s famous quote is spot on – many people aren’t aware that “imperfect” children and adults, in addition to the Jews, were targeted for death by the Nazi regime. Estimates vary, but most agree that between 200,000-300,000 individuals with mental or physical disabilities were given what the Third Reich termed a “mercy killing” (another grossly dishonest euphemism). As horrible as that is, what’s worse is that many families willingly handed their children over, and the parents of the first child killed, Gerhard Kretschmar, actually petitioned Hitler requesting that he be put to death. Kretschmar’s death was the catalyst that led to doctors and midwives being required to report the birth of all newborns with disabilities, which ultimately led to their deaths.
Although the entire piece on the new test is disturbing to me, the way the quoted individual matter-of-factly refers to it being developed for use with other diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, is downright terrifying.
Did you happen to read the piece by Amy Julia Becker last year that was in Motherlode? I wrote my own post about it, but it’s worth checking out if only for the comments. Many of the commenters clearly hold a “eugenics mindset” – and those people aren’t Nazis, they’re living among us.
When that article/study came out I almost threw up…I too wrote about it and how much it bothered me…
I work so hard to advocate for my daughter, and when professionals are telling others how hard they working to eradicate her…how on earth will anyone listen to what I have to say?
Wonderful post…
I have that same feeling all the time – people trust “professionals” and it makes my head hurt to think of going against the “experts” alone.
Wow, this is so scary. Really, scary. I was talking to an older lady who works at a school for kids with special needs (and has for many years). She made the innocent comment that it used to be that most of the kids at the school had down syndrome and now there were hardly any. I informed her of the reason behind her observation – lots of these kids aren’t being allowed to be born. She had no idea. So, so sad. And so incredibly scary to think about who they’ll target next, like you said.
Found your blog recently and like it. 🙂 My little guy has cerebral palsy (and a handful of other diagnoses).
Thanks so much for visiting, Lisa. I will come over and visit Elijahland soon. Yes, it is terribly sad that specific people are being targeted for elimination. Most people don’t think of it that way, I’m sure, when they make these choices, but at it’s core that’s exactly what it is. Patricia Bauer’s daughter (http://www.patriciaebauer.com/) has Down syndrome and she has spoken before about how her daughter’s old pediatrician commented to her at one time that he used to have a steady stream of patients with Ds, but not anymore, because “on the west side of L.A., they aren’t being born anymore.”