Eugenics and euthanasia – then and now

A main objective of this article is to give a presentation of the widespread acceptance of eugenics in the twentieth century and to show how the German euthanasia programmes were embedded in eugenic ideology. A second objective is to challenge the notion that eugenics and the practice of euthanasia...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lars Grue
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Stockholm University Press 2009-09-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.sjdr.se/articles/359
Description
Summary:A main objective of this article is to give a presentation of the widespread acceptance of eugenics in the twentieth century and to show how the German euthanasia programmes were embedded in eugenic ideology. A second objective is to challenge the notion that eugenics and the practice of euthanasia on disabled people disappeared forever with the ending of the Second World War. The main reason for asking this question is to be found in today's medical practices in relation to inherited disorders and impairments, practices comprising both what can be labelled ‘eugenics light’ and euthanasia on newborns with congenital disorders.
ISSN:1501-7419
1745-3011