National Health Services staff have been issued a warning by the government-funded NHS Monitoring Board, urging them to ‘stop discouraging cousin marriages’.
According to the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), which briefed staff on the policy on cousin marriages, it stated: “It is unacceptable to discourage marriages between close relatives in a blanket manner.”
Speaking about the reason, the regulatory body justified that parents are only at a slightly increased risk of having a child with a genetic condition.
So instead of scaring the couples off, the geneticist should meet with couples and advise them on “how to consider arranging future marriages outside the family.”
As reported by The Telegraphthe document in question read: “Action at community level can help people understand and act on this [our] advice; but this is only acceptable if the information is balanced, non-stigmatizing and non-directive.”
Starting a debate
Recently issued guidelines regarding cousin marriage have sparked a debate as people ask health officials to investigate the matter.
Previously, there was a study into NHS guidelines, which reportedly promoted the idea that cousin marriages have benefits. The NHS later scrapped that guidance following a global backlash from parents and scientific communities.
In Britain, cousin marriages are common in the British-Pakistani community. Despite being legal in Britain, medical experts warn it increases the chance of children being born with serious health problems or disabilities.
What medical science says about cousin marriage
In medical science, experts are usually discouraged from this type of marriage due to serious health problems and genetic defects.
According to Bradford’s research, children from first-cousin marriages are at greater risk for recessive disorder and are more likely to have speech and language problems. As a result, only 54 percent of these children are less likely to reach a ‘good stage of development’.
According to another data analysis reported by The Telegraph73 babies under one year of age died or suffered serious health problems because their parents were close relatives. This accounts for approximately 3.7% of all child deaths analyzed.
In the general population, the risk of having a child with a genetic condition or serious birth defect is approximately 2-3 percent. But in secondary couples, the risk increases to about 4-7 percent.
Growing concerns and legislative responses
Given the risks associated with first cousin marriages, several steps have been taken in Britain and around the world.
Richard Holden, the Tory MP, introduced a bill to ban the practice and called for a ban on cousin marriages.
He added: “Behind each of these deaths lies a number of preventable human tragedies.”
The government has shown no interest in banning cousin marriages, instead pursuing the policy of ‘genetic counseling’.
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: “The practice of cousin marriage was banned in Norway last year, and has also been banned in most US states. It is time for Britain to join the queue by banning the practice.”
Two Scandinavian countries have moved to completely ban cousin marriage. Norway banned marriage between cousins in 2025. In Sweden, a ban will come into effect in 2027.
