Anyone who knows me knows that (a) opposing eugenics is one of my core commitments, (b) opposing discriminatory medical rationing has been a major focus of my professional efforts this past few weeks, and (c) I could not disagree more with @GovindPersad's argument.
Indeed, if you want to see how much I disagree with Prof. Persad, read my own piece, soon to be published by @YaleLJournal in their online edition, which specifically rebuts his argument: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf…
But I do not and cannot support this effort, which I just found out about, to get the journal to "revoke publication of Professor Persad's piece."
Prof. Persad's argument fits with the mainstream of bioethics work -- which is one reason I am not a fan of lots of mainstream bioethics work. I am convinced that people like me are right and people like are wrong, and that our arguments are more persuasive than theirs.
In the end, I am convinced my side will win the argument in public discourse & democratic decisionmaking. But we won't win, nor change policies that actually harm disabled people, without being willing to engage the arguments of powerful people like the bioethics establishment.
If this ticks off some of my friends, so be it. It wouldn't be the first time.
