I'm an American but studied abroad in Denmark for around 6 months. When I was there, I found out that the Nordic countries have virtually eradicated down syndrome by testing pregnant people for it. 99% choose to abort. How do you guys feel about this?
Personally this is quite disturbing to me. I've known people with down syndrome who live happy, quality lives. Even if it is up to the mother whether or not to abort, when it happens 99% of the time, is it not cultural eugenics? It seems the culture is almost afraid of taking care of a child with down syndrome. Especially in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, where the resources to take care of them are more widely available. If you could test for other things like autism, or even something like extreme depression, would yall do the same thing?
EDIT: I am strongly pro choice and I have talked to many American people on both sides of the political spectrum about this and they unanimously agree with me. On an individual level, I support everyones right to make their own decisions, but when it gets to the population level it becomes more of a cultural issue. There seems to be a cultural agreement that children with down syndrome are too difficult to care for. Does that make it ok to eradicate them? I honestly don't know
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The original was posted on /r/denmark by /u/queen_bs at 2024-03-13 15:12:18+00:00.
TheRealTormDK at 2024-03-13 15:29:16+00:00 ID:
kuotgg8You could argue that in some sense, and some do.
I think the rest of us sees it more as getting all the data up front and make choices based on those data.
Also, it is not a REQUIRED test to take, it's an offer that the women receives in week 8, and 12, and if the risk is considered high (lower than 1:300), then further tests are offered.
Ultimately it remains the woman's choice, unlike in some states in the US.
Emotional-Egg3937 at 2024-03-13 16:23:26+00:00 ID:
kup38phWeek 12 and 20 :)
Nervous-Ant-Boss at 2024-03-13 16:59:44+00:00 ID:
kup9ysuNo, you get blood work done around week 8 for double and triple test and a scan around week 12. The combination of the blood work and the scan will give a number telling the risk of several kinds of chromosonal disorders as Downs.
Around week 20 there is a additional scan but it is looking for physical deformaties.
Emotional-Egg3937 at 2024-03-13 17:05:35+00:00 ID:
kupb1r1Ah yes. I thought you just talked about the ultra sounds. But you are right. The blood test is taken a bit earlier than the first ultra sound. Sorry about the misunderstanding.
It's true that it's physical deformaties they are looking for in the 20 week scan. Some specific physical defects are more often associated with Down's Syndrome, though, so this scan might also lead to further genetic testing. But usually they catch the high risk ones in the earlier test.
Nervous-Ant-Boss at 2024-03-13 17:13:12+00:00 ID:
kupcg4sI think they catch all most all with the first testing. But some might chance their mind if they know their baby with Downs also has a severe heart condition and might not see their first birthday. That would be some of my biggest concerns beside the toll on older siblings and the declining support for disabled people...
Emotional-Egg3937 at 2024-03-13 17:21:34+00:00 ID:
kupdzu0I think they do too. I just shadowed an ultrasound technician doing those types of scans one day when I was in university, and she mentioned that it sometimes happens (albeit rarely)
Me too. I would hate to put a baby through a short and painful life. I honestly don't know what I would do if the baby had Downs but was otherwise healthy (no significant defects etc). I for sure would research the shit out of it.
I was in a "due date group" on Facebook with a mom who chose to keep her baby with Downs. He was honestly the cutest things, and pretty healthy as far as I remember. But then he got hospitalized with a severe infection and ended up dying but got revived. He did have brain damage afterwards though. It was awful for him and the entire family. I know terrible things can happen to all babies, but kids with Down's are just more prone to health problems, even if they are pretty healthy.
I left Facebook, so I don't know how he is today. I hope they are all okay.