Bioethics
People should not be seen as less than human because they have a disabling impairment.
Stories about the human genetic sciences are always in the news today. Often these encourage negative attitudes towards disabled people.
The genetic sciences see disability and disabling impairments as genetic flaws that should be eliminated.
These attitudes are good when they result in cures. But they are bad when they lead to attitudes that de-humanise the disabled individual.
This is an increasingly complex subject and people are easily convinced by the latest scientific announcement without realising the full implications.
Since 1993, DAA has informed disabled people and our allies about the negative impacts of the new genetic sciences on attitudes to disabled people. We have spoken and written for many international and national gatherings of bioethicists and genetic scientists.
To be human is to be different and difference is not a question of degree or kind. Difference is essential for genetic sustainability and for development.
The DAA publishes the following two papers on subjects related to Bioethics:
Briefing Paper on the Right to Life
Discrimination has gone so deep it threatens our right to life.
Disability, Development and the Biotechnologies
To be human is to be different and difference is not a question of degree or kind. Difference is essential for genetic sustainability and for development.
Genetics, Ethics and Disability
Genetics and Deaf Children – Friend or Foe?
A Presentation to the National Deaf Children’s Society Annual Conference, 24 June 2005
Assisted Suicide and Disabled People
Our society today is increasingly seeing impairment, disability and aging as facets of life to be avoided at all costs.
The illustration on this page is courtesy of David Werner, Healthwrights.