NHS apologised for guidance on first cousin marriage after backlash

NHS England removed and apologised for a guidance note this week after it prompted controversy by describing potential social and economic benefits of first cousin marriage while also discussing its genetic risks. The Genomics Education Programme published the piece on September 22, then deleted it after backlash from medical and political figures, with an NHS spokesperson saying the article should not have been published and that it has been removed.

The guidance examined whether the UK should ban first cousin marriage, noting the practice has been legally permitted in Britain since the 16th century. It acknowledged established evidence that children of closely related parents face an increased risk of some inherited conditions, and it cited research linking cousin marriage in some communities to higher rates of congenital disorders and certain developmental concerns. The post recommended measures such as genetic counselling, premarital testing and targeted public health education rather than an outright ban, and warned that singling out specific communities could stigmatise families and undermine trust in health services.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticised the...