The case for a Prenatal Endangered Species Act (PESA)

by Kurt Kondrich 

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 expressed concern that many of our nation’s native plants and animals were in danger of becoming extinct, and under the ESA species may be listed as either endangered or threatened.  “Endangered” means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a substantial portion of its habitat. “Threatened” means a species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future.  The law’s ultimate goal is to “recover” species so they no longer need protection under the ESA.  When the ESA was passed few if any people realized a unique group of human beings would be in danger of becoming extinct due to another event that happened in 1973.


The 1973 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision created the right to an abortion that no US court had ever previously recognized.  Prior to the passage of Roe v. Wade there were no prenatal tests to determine Down syndrome and these beautiful human beings with an extra chromosome were just beginning to make progress toward full inclusion in our culture.  Prenatal genetic testing has advanced rapidly since the 1970s, and currently 90%+ of individuals identified prenatally with Down syndrome are targeted and aborted which clearly makes them a prenatal endangered species.  This silent prenatal eugenic movement receives very little coverage, and with a 90%+ termination rate isn’t it time we add “Down syndrome Human Mammals” to the same list as the African Elephant, Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat, Ear-spot Squirrel and Gray-handed Night Monkey?  Should we not begin to “recover” these priceless people before all are exterminated?

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