The emergence of newer technologies and the existence of pre-implantation genetic screening in other countries do not make it morally right for Singapore to embrace this procedure (“Three hospitals to offer embryo-screening technique in pilot study”; Nov 15).
The embryo is, at every stage of its development, a human being. Screening for normal, healthy embryos is immoral, as it leads to the destruction of defective embryos. It is in reality a search-and-destroy mission — the modern face of eugenics.
Genetic equality is pursued to increase the chances of a successful IVF cycle. Reproduction becomes a process of division by class, transforming parents’ unconditional love into an attitude of conditional acceptance.
What results is genetic discrimination and a willingness to discard those who are unfit. What kind of society are we creating?
As one with a genetic disorder, I am deemed to have defective genes compared with a person without a disability. I would have been discarded.
What message does pre-implantation genetic screening convey to existing parents of persons with special needs? That their decision to raise such a child was foolish and inferior when it actually showed courage and perseverance?
The pursuit of genetic equality will erode our willingness to treat the genetically impaired as humanly equal. Unless we admit and address our fear of and misconceptions about disability, our attempt to build an inclusive society is only skin-deep.
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