Eugenics

Judge who ordered abortion says it was justified

Jared Yee | 03 March 2012

A Massachusetts judge who ordered an abortion and sterilisation for a pregnant woman with schizophrenia earlier this year has vigorously defended her decision. Christina Harms, who retired from the bench last month after 23 years, made a rare public defence.

A Model Proposal for eliminating poverty in Motor City

Michael Cook | 22 February 2012

The eugenic temptation is ever with us. This seems to be the lesson conveyed by Editorial Page Editor of The Detroit News, Nolan Finley.

North Carolina may compensate victims of eugenics program

Michael Cook | 02 February 2012

The North Carolina legislature has recommended that surviving victims of the State’s forced sterilization program be paid US$50,000 each.

North Carolina’s eugenic past makes headlines again

Jared Yee | 17 December 2011

North Carolina’s eugenic past has made headlines again as legislators push to compensate the estimated 7,600 victims of its eugenics program.

Transhumanist sets goalposts for the future

Michael Cook | 23 July 2011

American political science commentator Francis Fukuyama once called transhumanism the world’s most dangerous idea. Whether this is true depends on your aspirations for society. But a brief article in Discover by a staffer with the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, a transhumanist thinktank, Kyle Munkittrick, at least shows that society will be very different if transhumanism gets traction.

Have we really exorcised eugenics from genetics?

Michael Cook | 28 May 2011

he linkage between genetics and eugenics is an oft-told story, but it bears repeating again and again. This is an idea hammered home in latest issue of Annals of Human Genetics.

UK commission calls for more widely available preconception genetic testing

Jared Yee | 15 April 2011

The UK government’s advisory body on human genetics has recommended that preconception genetic testing for genetic diseases should be made more available in screening programs.

New Hampshire’s eugenics legislator resigns

Michael Cook | 18 March 2011

Strom Thurmond celebrated his 100th birthday as a serving senator from the state of South Carolina. But it’s not necessarily a great idea to keep soldiering on as a legislator until you drop off the twig, as 91-year-old Martin Harty, a state representative from New Hampshire has learned, rather painfully.

UK woman could be forcibly sterilised

Michael Cook | 19 February 2011

A secret UK court is studying whether it should authorise the compulsory sterilisation of a 21-year-old woman.

Julian Savulescu on power naps and other bioethical issues

Michael Cook | 17 June 2010

Euthanasia, Peter Singer &c.