| Abstract |
"Eugenics is surrounded by a complex history, encompassing both positive and negative
chapters in the societies where it was applied. The methodology of the following work is
conducted through a literature review concerning eugenics and its impact on Public
Health. Starting with 84 articles sourced from PubMed, of which 35 were rejected due to
irrelevance, along with the remaining 49 articles, 15 were selected from Google Books for
processing. The thesis is completed through the study of a total of 64 bibliographic
references. Subsequently, through this historical review, we attempt to trace the trajectory
of eugenics, which has appeared in different forms and objectives from ancient times to
the present day. In ancient Sparta, eugenic practices were applied by selecting only healthy
infants to survive, who would develop into capable warriors in the long term, while the
unhealthy, through neglect, perished. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the concept of
eugenics evolved into more systematic efforts to control human reproduction. This
included the promotion of reproduction by individuals with 'desirable' genetic traits.
Eugenics has often been associated with the Nazi policies of Nazi Germany, as the Nazis
adopted eugenic policies that led to mass executions of people with unwanted or 'defective'
characteristics, according to their racist criteria, ultimately leading to genocide. Thus, we
examine the concerns of people that developed in various eras anin their attempt to have healthy offspring, free from pathological characteristics. We also
focus on the influence they received from eugenic practices already applied by other
peoples, resulting in them 'imitating' these practices, leading to the death of children who
exhibited some form of deviation or disability. Furthermore, we refer to the goal of certain
races to eliminate the diversity and uniqueness of human existence, in order to attain
'homogeneity' and be considered superior to all, such as the Aryan race. In order to develop
a 'human reservoir' with ideal characteristics specific to the 'perfect' race, they used various
means and committed heinous crimes. Of course, we cannot overlook the leaps in
bioethics that have occurred in the effort to preserve human rights and diversity in the last
century. Over time, the concept of eugenics has changed significantly and has brought
about ethical and legal issues that seek resolution. We attempt to understand its
relationship with public health and examine whether a balance is achieved between ethics
and technological progress. Key factors in eugenics and public health are education,
access to health services, prevention, and timely treatment of problems that arise.
Inhibiting factors in achieving these goals include social inequality, poverty, and
difficulties in accessing health services, which necessitate measures in this direction. This
intervention in genetic material seeks to correct mutations that cause genetic diseases, but
without the practices that were applied in the past. Modern eugenics aligns with the
development of science and seeks human well-being with respect for human rights and
individual dignity. This is emphasized through a literature review on the topic.
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