British Government Official Suggests Infanticide for Disabled Children

British Government Official Suggests Infanticide for Disabled Children

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 26, 2004

London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British government official has sparked outrage by suggesting that children with disabilities should be killed.

John Harris, a member of the Human Genetics Commission, told a meeting at Westminster that he saw no distinction between a late-term abortion and euthanizing a child with disabilities shortly after birth.

In his comments, made to a governmental committee looking at human technologies, Harris endorsed infanticide in cases of a child carrying a genetic disorder that remained undetected during pregnancy.

"I don't think infanticide is always unjustifiable," he said. "There is a very widespread and accepted practice of infanticide in most countries."

Harris, who is a professor of bioethics at Manchester University, would not respond to media queries about what types of disabilities should lead to infanticide or if he believes there is an age by which children should not be killed.

According to those at the meeting, Harris, reportedly said that he sees no "moral change" between the time a child is in the womb and a child is born.

It is not "plausible to think that there is any moral change that occurs during the journey down the birth canal," Harris said.

The remarks drew strong criticism from pro-life organizations.

Julia Millington, political director of the Pro-Life Party, said, "Infanticide is murder and is against the law. It is frightening to think that university students are being educated by somebody who endorses the killing of newborn babies, and equally worrying to discover that such a person is the establishment's ‘preferred’ bioethicist."

Harris is a member of the ethics committee for the British Medical Association and pro-life groups say he should be removed from the panel and no longer serve as an official advisor for the doctors group.

"Prof Harris is the Establishment's preferred bioethicist, a member of the Human Genetics Commission, and has acted as ethical consultant to the Department of Health and to numerous international bodies," Millington said.

"In such a climate is it any wonder that a baby has been aborted in the UK at seven months for a cleft palate," Millington said, referring to a nationwide debate over abortions performed on unborn children who has disabilities that can easily be corrected with surgery.

However, Michael Wilkes, the chairman of the BMA’s ethics committee said Harris was simply trying to encourage the debate and discounted the comments.

Wilkes said Harris' beliefs were his own and did not reflect those of the BMA.

Harris has previously indicated he supports the buying and selling of human organs for transplantation and sex-selection of children for social reasons.


Enter your email address to receive news from LifeNews.com via email. Do you prefer to receive news daily or weekly? Daily Weekly Do you favor or oppose abortion? Favor Oppose Click here to make a PayPal donation to LifeNews.com!	British Government Official Suggests Infanticide for Disabled Children by Steven Ertelt LifeNews.com Editor January 26, 2004 London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British government official has sparked outrage by suggesting that children with disabilities should be killed. John Harris, a member of the Human Genetics Commission, told a meeting at Westminster that he saw no distinction between a late-term abortion and euthanizing a child with disabilities shortly after birth. In his comments, made to a governmental committee looking at human technologies, Harris endorsed infanticide in cases of a child carrying a genetic disorder that remained undetected during pregnancy. "I don't think infanticide is always unjustifiable," he said. "There is a very widespread and accepted practice of infanticide in most countries." Harris, who is a professor of bioethics at Manchester University, would not respond to media queries about what types of disabilities should lead to infanticide or if he believes there is an age by which children should not be killed. According to those at the meeting, Harris, reportedly said that he sees no "moral change" between the time a child is in the womb and a child is born. It is not "plausible to think that there is any moral change that occurs during the journey down the birth canal," Harris said. The remarks drew strong criticism from pro-life organizations. Julia Millington, political director of the Pro-Life Party, said, "Infanticide is murder and is against the law. It is frightening to think that university students are being educated by somebody who endorses the killing of newborn babies, and equally worrying to discover that such a person is the establishment's ‘preferred’ bioethicist." Harris is a member of the ethics committee for the British Medical Association and pro-life groups say he should be removed from the panel and no longer serve as an official advisor for the doctors group. "Prof Harris is the Establishment's preferred bioethicist, a member of the Human Genetics Commission, and has acted as ethical consultant to the Department of Health and to numerous international bodies," Millington said. "In such a climate is it any wonder that a baby has been aborted in the UK at seven months for a cleft palate," Millington said, referring to a nationwide debate over abortions performed on unborn children who has disabilities that can easily be corrected with surgery. However, Michael Wilkes, the chairman of the BMA’s ethics committee said Harris was simply trying to encourage the debate and discounted the comments. Wilkes said Harris' beliefs were his own and did not reflect those of the BMA. Harris has previously indicated he supports the buying and selling of human organs for transplantation and sex-selection of children for social reasons.