Disability, genetics and global justice

Author:
SHAKESPEARE Tom
Journal article citation:
Social Policy and Society, 4(1), January 2005, pp.87-95.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press

Genetic developments are viewed with distrust by the disability rights community. But the argument that genetic screening promotes social injustice is not straightforward. Disabled people are affected by both the problems of impairment and the problems of disability. Preventing impairment should be a priority as well as preventing disability. Questions of social justice arise if biomedical approaches are prioritized at the cost of structural changes in society. They also arise when disabled people do not have access to genetic medicine. On a global scale, the priorities for impairment prevention are basic healthcare, not high technology medicine.

Subject terms:
physical disabilities, prevention, rights, social policy, health care, genetics, globalisation;
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1475-3073
ISSN print:
1474-7464

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