MICHAEL D. RINGROSE,
Sir, - I read with interest and appreciation Breda O'Brien's column of December 29th headed: "Adelaide proposals fail to respect human life".
As CEO of PwDI (People with Disabilities in Ireland), I noted her reference to genetic scanning and the possibility that it may, at some point, lead to someone, somewhere, determining what form of human life measured up to some spurious standard and would, therefore, become the only socially acceptable model.
PwDI is the representative voice of people with disabilities and is concerned with protecting the human, social, economic and political rights of people with disabilities.
There are an estimated 400,000 people with disabilities in Ireland and I suspect some if not many of them would, at least, have been at risk if a pre-natal scan had indicated that they did not measure up to somebody's notion of an "acceptable model".
In this context, I thought, perhaps, you would be interested in a recent French court ruling. The case centred on the fact that a doctor failed to advise the mother that a pre-natal scan showed that her baby had Down's symptoms and was, therefore, born without the mother having been given the option to have an abortion. The court held that the doctor was 100 per cent liable for the cost of the specialised care needed for a child with Down's syndrome. It is feared that the decision heralds a policy of state eugenics or controlled breeding.
Well done on your piece, Ms O'Brien. It was very well balanced and very well presented. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL D. RINGROSE,
Chief Executive, PwDI,
Morning Star Avenue,
Dublin 7.