The NHS is grappling with increasing numbers of birth defects and other genetic conditions linked to first-cousin marriages, as British MPs debate whether to outlaw the practice. Former Conservative Party Chairman Richard Holden recently introduced a Private Members’ Bill in Parliament, highlighting the health risks associated with such unions, which are particularly prevalent in certain communities within the UK. Proposal to Ban First-Cousin MarriagesHolden’s proposed bill argues that cousin marriages result in significantly higher rates of birth defects and genetic conditions, placing a subs…

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