Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS

CBS is experiencing severe backlash over a recent On Assignment episode in which they jubilantly declare that Down syndrome had almost entirely “disappeared” in Iceland – but not because of medical advances. It’s disappearing because they are aborting unborn babies who have it.

Newsbusters is reporting on the incredibly insensitive treatment of an episode which aired on Monday evening, with correspondent Elain Quijano. Even though Quijano’s report was fair, CBS disingenuously advertised the story by declaring that Iceland was “eliminating” Down syndrome, implying that this was due to some great medical breakthrough; however, in reality, this is because almost 100 percent of women whose babies were diagnosed with the condition are choosing to abort.

As CBS reported, Iceland has a population of about 330,000 people, and has on average just one or two children with Down syndrome born per year. Compare this to the U.S. where 6,000 babies with Down are born annually.

Although prenatal screening in Iceland is not mandatory, women are told that “most women” opt to have the tests, which in itself can be perceived as pressure to test. i

To her credit, Quijano raised pro-life concerns during the show.

“Down syndrome is a genetic disorder, which results in distinct facial features, and a range of developmental issues, but many born with the condition today can still live long, healthy lives,” she defended.

While interviewing Helga Sol Olafsdottir, a counselor for women with difficult pregnancies who works at Iceland’s Landspitali University Hospital, it became quite clear that she did not agree with the idea that children with Down should be allowed to live.

When women have a difficult time deciding about abortion, she told Quijano that she reassures them, “This is your life, you have the right to choose how your life will look like.”

There was no mention, not even the slightest regard, for the life of the unborn baby.

When Quijano countered by saying hat in America, many people believe abortion is murder, Olafsdottir disagreed.

“We don’t look at abortion as a murder. We look at it as a thing that we ended. We ended a possible life that may have had a huge complication… preventing suffering for the child and also for the family,” she said. “And I think that is more right than seeing it as a murder — that’s so black and white. Life isn’t black and white. Life is grey.”

Geneticist Kari Stefansson, founder of deCODE Genetics, a company that has studied nearly the entire Icelandic population’s genomes, had a different perspective on the elimination of Down syndrome via abortion in his country.

Quijano asked Stefansson, “What does the 100 percent termination rate, you think, reflect about Icelandic society?”

“It reflects a relatively heavy-handed genetic counseling,” he said. “And I don’t think that heavy-handed genetic counseling is desirable. … You’re having impact on decisions that are not medical, in a way.”

He added: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with aspiring to have healthy children, but how far we should go in seeking those goals is a fairly complicated decision.”

The backlash began almost before the episode ended.

Actress Patricia Heaton took to Twitter to slam the network: “Iceland isn’t actually eliminating Down Syndrome. They’re just killing everybody that has it. Big difference.”

@Toddfisher wrote: “While we’re rightly condemning the ideology of Naizsm, let’s include this one – the eugenics going on in Iceland.”

@Bryanbaise suggested an alternative headline for CBS: “Iceland is on pace to virtually eliminate Down syndrome through eugenics.”

Alexandra DeSanctis tweeted: “No advanced society eradicates suffering by eradicating those who suffer. That’s exactly what Iceland is doing.”

The country of Iceland and those who support this kind of silent genocide need to ask themselves some hard questions. Why are they resorting to eugenics to eliminate people who they perceive to be inferior? What is their motive for doing so? And how far down this road do they really want to go? Are they trying to build a master race, just like the Nazi’s did in the last century, even while deluding themselves into thinking they’re being “merciful” to the handicapped?

Even more important, do they fully understand just how much these decisions are costing them and their society as a whole? In addition to challenging science to advance, the disabled teach us compassion and empathy while introducing us to new perspectives on life and love. How could this ever be bad for society?

As Courtney Cox concluded so perfectly: “Down syndrome children are some of the greatest blessings in this world! Iceland, you’re gonna miss out!”

© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace®  http://www.womenofgrace.com