by James Beal and Ben Clatworthy, The Times
Guidance acknowledged there were ‘risks to child health’ but also argued the close familial union could bring ‘economic benefits’
Health bosses are investigating after it emerged that NHS midwives were taught about the “potential benefits” of cousin marriage, despite the practice increasing the risk of birth defects.
Official midwifery guidance, used for teaching, branded concerns about the risks of congenital diseases, or birth defects, “exaggerated” and “unwarranted” because 85 to 90 per cent of cousin couples “do not have affected children”. The national average rate for children born without congenital diseases is 98 per cent.
The guidance did admit there were some “risks to child health associated with close relative marriage” but claimed they should be “balanced against the potential benefits”.
Marrying a relative can offer “economic benefits” as well as “emotional and social connections” and “social capital”, advice in the NHS document said.
It added that staff should not stigmatise predominantly south Asian or Muslim patients who have a baby with their cousin, because the practice is “perfectly normal” in some cultures.
Stuart Andrew, shadow health secretary, told The Times: “This is absolutely bonkers and has no place in our NHS. Our midwives should be focused on protecting women and babies, not normalising practices that carry well-documented risks. Cousin marriage is not safe and healthcare professionals should never be encouraged to downplay or normalise it.”