NHS cousin marriage controversy: What you need to know

Credit: PeopleImages

By Claudia Tanner

NHS England has launched an investigation after official midwifery training materials described "potential benefits" of cousin marriage whilst downplaying associated health risks. Here's what happened and why it matters.

What's the story?

Official NHS midwifery guidance, used for teaching healthcare professionals, suggested there were "potential benefits" to marriage between first cousins, including economic advantages and social connections. The documents acknowledged health risks but described concerns about congenital diseases as "exaggerated" and "unwarranted."

NHS England began investigating on Sunday after the guidance was released through a freedom of information request and has committed to removing "inappropriate wording".

What exactly did the guidance say?

The training materials made several controversial claims:

On health risks: The guidance stated that 85 to 90% of cousin couples "do not have affected children", suggesting concerns were overblown. However, this means 10 to 15% of children born to cousin couples experience congenital diseases, compared to just 2% in the general population.