How genetic counseling emerged in Sweden

What is it about?

In Sweden, genetic counseling partly grew out of the sterilization and abortion legislations in the 1930s- 1950s. This article discusses an unwanted and unexpected consequence of these legislations: that individuals started to fear that they might pass on diseases to their children, even when there was no medical risk of this. This fear made some of them apply for abortions or sterilizations, and some were even granted because the fear itself made them ill. The fear was coined "heredophobia", and medical experts tried to calm the individuals. This example illustrates the historical connections between genetics and eugenics and also exemplifies how individuals have taken a great responsibility for their biology and reproduction.

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Why is it important?

This is important because it shows how expertise affects individuals, and not always in a way that was intended. It is also important because it shows how the early genetics was closely connected to eugenics, or race biological ideas.