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Controversy After NHS Website Suggests There Are Benefits to First-Cousin Marriage
Health Secretary Wes Streeting demands apology after NHS report highlighted benefits of cousin marriage despite doubling genetic disorder risks to 4-6%, officials said.
- Last week, the United Kingdom's National Health Service posted an NHS Genomics Education Programme article noting `stronger extended family support systems and economic advantages` for first-cousin marriage, but it was removed by Monday morning.
- Political actors framed the issue as a cultural and public-health conflict, with conservative Tories supporting a ban and Labour officials warning it targets British Pakistani communities earlier this year.
- Born in Bradford researchers found children of first-cousin marriages are more likely to have speech and language difficulties and require more GP appointments.
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting said on Tuesday he thought an apology should be issued and said the guidance should never have been published, while Conservative MPs Claire Coutinho and Richard Holden criticised the report.
- The NHS suggested education and counselling rather than a ban, noting marrying a first cousin is legal in the UK with historical legality since the 1500s and recommending genetic counselling, awareness-raising initiatives and public health campaigns aligned with the Labour government education approach.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left2Leaning Right5Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Right
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Right
56% Right
L 22%
C 22%
R 56%
Factuality
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