Disability Studies 2072F/G Lecture 3: Genetic Screening for Disabilities

• School: Western University
• Department: Disability Studies
• Course: Disability Studies 2072F/G
• Professor: John Heng

Document Summary

Women terminate their pregnancies 60-90% of the time when prenatal tests diagnose downs. Problems or risks associated with the testing: fear of miscarriage. Inaccuracy: test results could cause unnecessary anxiety. Not necessarily motivated by opposition to abortion. Maternit21 addresses most of these refusal reasons. Maternit21 can be administered in first trimester: meaning that more women would be more likely to abort because they are still in their first trimester. Earlier gestational age is associated with higher termination rates. Disability critique is similar to the expressivist objection . = prenatal testing and termination of fetuses with disabilities expresses a negative or offensive message about people living with disabilities. Critique of the above argument: actions such as genetic testing and abortion are insufficiently rule- governed to be construed as expressing any particular message. Note: remember that many women go through testing just for information sake, not for abortion purposes.