As World Down Syndrome Day is being marked, Germany’s highest decision-making body in healthcare issues has proposed making prenatal genetic tests that detect Down Syndrome a standard part of a public health insurance plan [1]. Down Syndrome support groups fear the move will see an even greater number of abortions among women who discover their unborn child has the condition.
Lifecodexx AG, a German company behind a popular prenatal test, says it is “cautiously optimistic” that costs for its test, between €129 and €299, will be covered by public health insurers.
Abortions in Germany available up to the 12th week without limit. Later terminations are possible, including after a Down Syndrome diagnosis, if a psychologist assesses the woman as unable to cope. About 90pc of German women who discover their child has the condition go on to have an abortion.
Some 25 organisations have come together to lobby against the proposal, including 20-year-old Natalie Dedreux, who has Down Syndrome. “We don’t want to be aborted,” she said. “The world should stop being afraid of us.”