We're already doing this. In Iceland, 85% of prospective parents who receive prenatal testing and discover that their children will have Down's Syndrome choose to terminate the pregnancy. Tay Sachs disease, a condition that afflicts ashekenazi jews, has been eradicated due to abortion upon diagnosis and carrier screening tests for couples that determines their "genetic suitability"
I don't understand peole who are fearful of the elimination of genetic diseases that cause. The majority of articles I read on this subject are littered with lines such as these:
"Deciding what sorts of lives are worth living brings us disturbingly close to the bygone era of eugenics, when only the “right” sorts of people were supposed to procreate."
It's not crazy to think that parents do not want to have to spend extra resources on education and basically support their child not only until their death, but having to arrange for their offspring's care after they perish.
I would like to see these people who think along these lines adopt Down's Syndrome children if they think it is so important. Perhaps if prospective parents know that there is someone willing to take care of their disabled children, more of them may go through with the pregnancy.
Also, if diseases like these end up offering some sort of survival advantage in a future scenario, we still have the genetic data to recreate the condition. it's not like Down's Syndrome or other genetic diseases are going to completely disappear. Also, there will doubtlessly be groups of people who for religious reasons or otherwise will elect not to get treatment
Does anyone regret the virtual elimination of polio or smallpox?