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From The Times

August 29, 2007

Vatican talks of 'eugenics culture’ after abortion of wrong twin

Richard Owen in Rome

Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into a botched selective abortion that the Vatican has described as the result of a “culture of perfection” resembling Nazi eugenics.

The deeply Catholic country was embroiled in a bitter ethical dispute yesterday after it emerged that a surgeon had accidentally terminated a healthy foetus instead of its twin with Down’s syndrome. The operation – on a 38-year-old woman 18 weeks into her pregnancy – was performed at the San Paolo hospital in Milan in June but has only now come to light. The foetus with Down’s syndrome was also aborted subsequently.

The revelation has reignited the debate in Italy over abortion, which was legalised only in 1978. The law allows terminations of healthy foetuses up to the 90th day of pregnancy, though abortions can be performed at a later stage if there is a risk to the life of the mother or the foetus is malformed.

Anna Maria Marconi, the gynaecologist who carried out the Milan abortion, said that the woman – who has not been named – requested the operation after an amniocentesis test.

Professor Marconi said that her conscience was clear. The foetuses, which had been identical, had changed positions in the womb between the last scan and the operation, an “act of fate that could not have been foreseen”, she said. The professor was backed by the hospital authorities.

The mother, who has a small son, said that her life had been ruined. “Neither my husband nor I can sleep at night,” she told the Corriere della Sera, which first reported the blunder. She said that the happiness she and her husband had experienced when they learnt that she was expecting twins had been transformed into heartbreak.

Her husband said that they were “truly desperate over this terrible mistake” and were consulting family lawyers.

The episode has been seized upon by Catholics campaigning to have the abortion law repealed. L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, said: “No one has the right to suppress another life and take the place of God for any motive whatever.” The paper said that selective abortion amounted to eugenics, stemming from “a culture of perfection”. The Association of Catholic Doctors said that selective abortion was “the fruit of an egoistic culture”, while Luca Volontè, a Christian Democrat politician, said that the Milan mistake amounted to infanticide.

However, Carlo Flamigni, a leading fertility surgeon and a non-Catholic, argued that repealing the abortion law would be like “closing down all motorways just because now and then someone causes an accident by falling asleep at the wheel”. Rita Bernardini, of the pro-abortion Radical Party, said that if the “pro-life” campaign succeeded, prospective parents could lose the right not only to abortion but also to prenatal diagnosis warning them of birth defects.

Giorgio Bolis, the head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the San Paolo hospital, said that such cases were “very rare indeed” and that an internal hospital inquiry had shown that there were “no procedural errors”. Livia Turco, the Health Minister, insisted that the existing abortion law was “very wise” and would not be altered.

According to the Health Ministry, the number of annual abortions in Italy dropped from a height of 234,801 in 1982 to 129,588 in 2005.

I agree with Abbi Rouse from UK. IF a parent can handle & love & find JOY in raising a child that in many cases, will need Continuous care into Old age, possibly never hold a job, get married, not to mention the astronoimical COST involved & SACRIFICE on behalf of the entire family- what if Social Services collapses in the future? and your family could not afford this cost??? Even mentioning the TIme given to the special needs child over the others. The parents who say their DS child speaks French or other languages, well, this is NOT the NORM, your child is quite the minority! Many times , divorces happen, the child ends up in a home -what kind of life is this? I would cry every day of my life to see my child like this, what kind of a future he or she had. I for one, a Mother with 6 children, could NOT do it. I wholeheartily agree that the Mohters who DO have these children are BETTER than ME. But please try not to judge those who COULD NOT do it.

Renee , Pittsburgh , USA

If disability is a crime punishable by death then what is to stop those who become disabled after birth or those who have survived birth from then being disposed of. If course it is much easier to dispose of an unborn baby but the morality is just the same born on unborn.

I have a disabled grandchild and she has qualities that the healthy have not. As she told a pro abortion campaigner when she was four years old. "Its wrong to kill babies". and her maternal grandmother who questioned the goodness of God. "God needs little disabled children". She will be graduating from university this year and has a beautiful heathy and very bright child of her own.

Cecilia Brown, Stockport, England

Catherine - the holocaust and its atrocities was not confined to Jews. Huge numbers of disabled people were also killed - simply for being disabled. The Nazi murders of disabled children are well documented and were carried out in great secrecy and with deception. They were, and sadly still are, the silent victims. Unfortunately the comparison is very real and valid.

Pat, Bristol, UK

I wish I was perfect. I see nothing wrong with seeking perfection for the children brought into the world. If serious imperfection is so great then we would all have frequent sexual fantasies about taking ugly, malformed lovers with really low IQs. And we would do so in reality. Yet we do not and if we did most people would see us as deviant.
The case in the article is very sad. I feel the medical systems should have double tested immediately prior to the termination. That said, I have no medical knowledge.

pia, london, uk

I have a child with D.S. and would like the opportunity to talk about her strengths, so much is said about "not wanting to have a child like that!!" She attends a normal school, studies Japanese and recently got a+ on her test result, played the trumpet in her school Xmas concert last night, rides a pony and events at shows and Pony Club... what more can I say, she is a joy, a delight, she has taught so many so much... give them a chance, love them, teach them, they can learn so much, they have a potential like any other child born in this world. Don;t label them as useless, the can give so much so society. You never hear of murders, robberies, etc carried out by someone with Down Syndrome... SO what's the problem!!!??? Just give them time and love, they deserve it.
Signed... A very happy mother.

Ann Williams, Rosedale, Victoria, Australia

Also, HOW CAN YOU COMPARE THE ABORTION OF A HANDICAPPED FOETUS TO THE HOLOCAUST?????

That is a disgusting comparison to make. Many of the jews who were murdered were not handicapped, nor where they foetuses. I resent the manner of comparing every morally dubious action to the atrocities of the holocaust. Neither abortion nor the holocaust should be arranged into something else and call one the other. The best word for the holocaust is the holocaust and the best word for abortion is abortion. Do not try to compose either into things they are not!

Catherine Spencer, Exeter, England

I was told one of my twins were dead after a botched amniosenthises which by the way was totally unnecessary and could have been fatal Thank God I had a good Doctor who helped me through it and today I have two beautiful childern. I hope the surviving child of this couple will learn from this so if and when his parents become "unwanted" he will love them enough to care for them .

Maggie, Washingtondc ex pat, USA

I can't understand why this ever happened. It seems crazy that the lady is not upset about killing the ds baby as if it were a piece of trash and life would have been fine having the healthy baby. She is only upset because she lost the healthy one and life if over. Children are a blessing and even the needy ones want to be loved too. She had a option if she couldn't handle the ds baby she could have put him up for adoption and everything would've been alright. In a way she is being punished for her actions because now she have neither baby. Babies are not something you can walk in the store and put in a special order for exactly what you want (eye color , hair, skin, sex) so be happy with what you get because they are a blessing from GOD and only HE can give life.

ran, Columbia, SC

nevermind the actual mistake that was made--what struck me was the comment that the babies changing positions was an â€œact of fate that could not have been foreseen.â€ is this physician actually claiming that she could not have anticipated the possibility that the babies would move from one day to the next? was an ultrasound immediately pre-operatively an unreasonable practice (possibly in an universal health care system it was impractical due to lack of access but that's for another time)? the negligence itself is horrifying; the excuse-making is unconscionable.

tanna lim, m.d., atlanta, ga, usa

To me this abortion act and many of the comments shows the deep prejudice against the handicapped. They are a little less than human so it is o.k. to abort them but it is a tragedy when the normal one is aborted by mistake. It sounds very similar to Hitler and the Jews. Since they were less than other humans it was o.k. to kill them

joan Sheridan, Needham, MA usa

You donâ€™t know how heavy a burden is you donâ€™t bearâ€¦ after 26 years of caring for my daughter born with Downâ€™s syndrome I know. It can be very distressing for the whole family, it can even destroy your family. Even if it is easier now to raise children with disabilities, it means for a very long time, maybe for all your life, a lot more work and careâ€¦ This was a terrible accident for this family, I feel with them.

Marianne, Gera, Germany

God is not responsible for abortions and the people who support it, he granted us free will, I think that this is a real bummer to God sometimes because not everyone listens to their consience and even when they think they are listening to it, if it tells them abortion is right then this is not direction from God but from the Prince of the Earth, Satan, this is the same stuff the Nazi's pulled in the 30's and 40's but for reason is seems ok. I can't wait until these people who have done these things are judged so that they find out what they have been doing, I can't judge them unfortunately, but you can bet Jesus will.

Carl Hahn, Janesville, Wisconsin

Gentlemen,what that case have to do with eugenics?

vlad, voronezh, russia

The "doctor" who performed this atrocity, stated "her conscience was clear".........how can a murderer have a clear conscience?

Steve Marsh, Jackson, USA Michigan

How sad to torture your own children because they don't fit your own idea of being perfect. Man kind has truly taken a huge step back wards when he can have his own children pulled apart for his own personal gain! So very sad my heart aches for these children and the unbelievable pain they must have suffered by they hands of those they trusted most.

Monica Cogan, White Bear Lake,

Those who blaspheme God based on their own understanding of the Catholic church dogmas just like B. Bashir here should understand better. read the Bible and see that the Church of Rome is not following GOD no matter what they say.And blaspheme is a serious matter also! Abortion is a way for men to live what they see as a better life.We are not God to decide who should die or live.The lives of those parents and of many WOMEN who had an abortion were shattered, two unborn were killed because DOCTORS say it"s better ?Doctors have a RIGHT to tell you THAT?Thou shall NOT kill is a commandment not a suggestion. Those who witness this today should meditate that God intervenes still and can HEAL and will do it. Maybe a second advice and a little time to ponder the lies and hypocrisies of those who say they improve your life by killing and make you pay top dollars for it could have avoided that situation. It amounts to sacrifice our children to Mamon and Milcom just as in biblical days.

Pierre, Montreal, Canada

the incident was tragic from either angle.
pro-lifers are upset because lifes were lost needlessly and pro-choicers are upset because the woman's choice was denied by a doctor's error. at worst its murder, at best medical malpractice.
an interesting note is that the association of Chromosome 21 with Down's Syndrome was made by Jerome Lejeune who was opposed to abortion and devoted his life to treating children with Down's.
by the way I think the reason for prenatal detection of disease is to help the family have an appropriate level of care in place; its an act of love, not an act to decide whether to abort or not.

sean, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Why is the Vatican so bothered? according to their dogma god is responsible for everything, so this is his fault really. Any being that can create worlds in 7 days is potent enough to know what he is doing.

In fact, he/she must also must have created the pro and con abortion lobby to delight in our exciting debates. Bless him and his sense of entertainment!

B Bashir, Singapore, Singapore

Vicki in the USA, and anybody else bashing their (and I do mean THEIR) bible, 'God' is not a brand-protected and consistant concept, despite the fervour of certain adherents. Revelations and any other tract from any other holy scripture is a man-made represention of what some other man regards as being the word of his God and nothing more. Let each person come to terms with their own personal conscience and 'God'. Our free will was the one gift that nature (OK, God...) gave us and it is the one thing we must defend most dearly.

Bruce Haig, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

The only victims in this story were the murdered unborn babies!
It is sad to report that 90% of all prenatal diagnosis with Down syndrome are terminated. I had an amnio at 17 weeks and it came back positive for Ds. Receiving our babies diagnosis prenatally gave me alot of time to research & prepare for our angels birth. She is 2-1/2 years old now and is light in all of our lives.

Debbie, Kihei, Hawaii USA

Clearly this lady does not deserve either baby! What would have happened if they didn't know one baby had DS? Would she have dumped it on the side of the road after it was born? I am glad this has happened to her, religion aside. She needs to learn that a baby is a blessing, from both a religious and a scientific viewpoint. Until she can appreciate life and stop playing God or tampering with foetus', she doesn't deserve to bring another one into this world.

Katie, Brisbane, Australia

Such utter contempt for human life and discrimination against physical and mental disabilities is disgusting. Now the lawyers will take their profits, too, in addition to the abortionist quack. They win, collecting their blood-stained money on the backs of the mangled, dismembered babies, while human decency loses.

parkay, Overland Park, USA/Kansas

There are two types of people who have abortions: those who care deeply and those who do not.

The first has made a considered decision in the best interests of the parent(s) and child, no matter how harrowing. As for the second; who would wish a child to be born to someone who could make a decision so lightly?

Abortion is tragic, but an unwanted child is even more so.

As a mother I can see that having twins would be hard work, especially with an existing small child: for one of those twins to be handicapped could be a breaking point for some. The family has to be considered as a whole.

The decision is a personal one. Talk of 'playing God' is unhelpful when you consider the wars and terrorist acts committed in the name of religion.

Abbi Rouse, Guernsey, UK

After years (well centuries if we're being honest) of corruption and repression I don't think the (catholic or any other) church has right to tell anyone what to do. If they can give moral guidance then great, but not at the cost of having zealots using their "teachings" to take the moral high ground.

The focus of this should be the issue of the incident itself and shouldn't be seized upon by people using outdated religious dogma to justify their rantings.

I feel for the family who are now the centre of the row when it's no ones business but their own. No chance of them being left alone I guess.

(I'm protestant by the way, does that make me evil?)

Clive, London, UK

I don't know it kinda makes you wonder.....why that happened? God does say everything happens for a reason and I'm sorry but just because that baby was going to be born with DS she wanted to rid it.....well she got what she wanted and MORE!!! People should choose to play GOD.
she could have raised that baby still.

ASHLEY, TUCSON, AZ

I wonder how people with Down's Syndrome feel when they read such a headline.

The error was not the abortion of the non-Downs baby - it was the abortion of either.

Pauline Gately, Weybridge, Surrey

No one has the right to play God and to take a childs life away,
that is murder.

I shall never understand how a doctor can take the life of a little child.

Abortion is mentioned in Revelations when it speaks of mothers killing their own children.

It is a shame and I believe those who participate in the sinful act of abortion will answer to God when they die.

vicki Dorsey, sylva, USA

The parents were very poorly advised. When you are told that you are going to have a Down's Syndrome baby it is difficult enough to absorb but it is usually announced as if you are facing a death sentence. It's probably while they were still in a state of mourning for the child they wished they would have that they took the decision to abort.

There is no explanation in the article as to how they decided which child had Downs. The amnio can detect the abnomaly in the fluid, but if there are twins (preusumably unidentical otherwise they would both carry the trisomy 21 chromosome) they both share the same fluid. So who has Down's?

If the abnormal foetus was detected physically in the scan, this would would no longer be visible after 90 days. The abortion was carried out after 18 weeks and it seems really bizarre that there was no scanner in the operating theatre for such a risky procedure.>

Christopher Hyde, Paris, France

Don't you just love the attitude of the woman who had the abortion? She's now claiming victim status even though this whole problem had its begining with her wanting to get rid of one of her offspring (I think foetus is Latin for offspring). At least the woman who performed the abortions is consistent in her lack of respect for human life. She claims she has a clear conscience. Is there such a thing as an abortionist with a guilty conscience?

Colin Black, New York, USA