The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill: A Message From G.O.D
G.O.D. has been busy dispensing some sane words, read: clarifying what the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, is actually about.
Rather than paraphrase G.O.D., I thought I would give you her words verbatim.
Actually no-one is choosing that an embryo should be deaf or not. The embryo is *already* deaf, but the government is trying to pass a law that says that *already* deaf embryo should never be allowed to survive. Since I was born deaf, the government is trying to make a statement I would never be allowed to live. (My quality of life is fine, thanks).
Deaf people are not generally advocating selection …. the government is. I don’t agree with genetic engineering either.
For the purposes of PGD 14(4)(9) says that only hearing embryos are allowed to survive, and deaf embryos must be discarded. It also bans deaf gene carriers in law from being donors. Here the government is:
- interfering with individual reproductive liberty
- making a statement who is permitted to reproduce
- which class of persons are permitted to surviveThis is a form of eugenics, and cannot be described as anything else. Selection for the purposes of traits or gender is banned, yet the government is seeking to make deaf people a special case.
As someone who is legally trained, I can see a number of other flaws (unworkable) in this clause and its almost as if parliament is setting up persons against persons. What if one gene was diagnosed as deaf and the other with Alzheimer’s Disease; which is the worse condition and should take precedence in a right to live, etc? There is not one single person on this planet who has perfect genes, and many factors determine how these mutate.
I hope this helps you understand better, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, and the implications of Clause 14 (4) (9). So, thank G.O.D. and spread her words of wisdom, far and wide.
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