JOURNAL ARTICLE

Physicians, Public Discourse, and Passive Euthanasia of Infants with Down Syndrome in the Late-Twentieth Century.

  • Published In: Canadian Journal of Health History, 2024, v. 41, n. 1. P. 100 1 of 3

  • Database: America: History and Life with Full Text 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Walls, Martha 3 of 3

Abstract

The article examines the historical practice in late-twentieth-century Canada of physicians endorsing passive euthanasia—deliberately withholding potentially life-saving medical treatment—from infants diagnosed with Down syndrome. Rooted in eugenic ideologies and reinforced by emerging genetic diagnostics and relaxed abortion laws in the 1970s, this practice persisted despite growing disability rights movements and legal protections. Physicians often justified withholding care based on perceived social and familial burdens, influencing parental decisions and framing the issue as one of parental choice while obscuring their own role. Public and professional opposition grew through the 1970s and 1980s, leading to legal challenges and shifts in medical ethics, although debates about the rights and treatment of disabled infants continue.

Additional Information

  • Source:Canadian Journal of Health History. 2024/04, Vol. 41, Issue 1, p100
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Health and Medicine
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:2816-6469
  • DOI:10.3138/cjhh.670-092023
  • Accession Number:177678553
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Canadian Journal of Health History is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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