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The distinctive feature of the Fondation Jérôme Lejeune is its being both a real step forward
every day and also a voice. Our efforts are aimed at persons affected by trisomy 21 because
today they are those most vulnerable. They are deprived by medicine, science and the
way society looks at those affected by this type of handicap. This is very hurtful to
them and to their families. We therefore want to help them in this way, making available
to them the clinical legacy of Jérôme Lejeune -- 50 years of clinical work continued today
by his colleagues and students; there is also another specific service we wish to render,
another effort made on behalf of our society's most vulnerable - those affected by trisomy
21 and other genetically-originated mental retardations. We seek to again turn research
concerns in this direction for a better understanding of these pathologies, to truly fight them
and rout them; we seek to give those suffering from an intellectual deficit the chance to
again use the talents they possess but cannot express owing to this chromosomal, genetic
or biological disorder. And we have succeeded in convincing the international community
that it is possible to treat them and probably, one day, to cure at least some of them. These
are the very specific efforts in which the daily work of Fondation is rooted. But of
course, the Fondation is also a voice. We speak out, exchange and explain what we do.
This is more needed than ever today given the very systematic proactive policy of trisomy
21 screening which results in the virtually complete eradication of a population for medical
reasons - which is completely unprecedented. We want to return medicine to its higher calling,
as Jérôme Lejeune expressed so well when he said: medicine is not there to carry out
the sentence, but to try to commute it. We are also committed to repeating what should
not need to be resaid -- that an infant is Man himself in microcosm. The respect owed
another human being is not determined by the quality of his genetic legacy. Further, as
we know, a civilisation is judged by the care and attention it gives its most vulnerable.
We are therefore constantly being called upon. The Fondation is very often called to take
position on these questions, to speak out in public debate, especially as regards bioethics.
Sometimes, as you know, we must do so through thick and thin, but we do it because we know
that you who support us are both generous and loyal. »