Tuesday, June 10, 2008 In love with cousin's daughter
Dear Meditalk,
I would like to ask your opinion regarding my situation right now. I'm in a relationship with my first cousin's daughter.
My mother and the father of her mother (her grandfather) are siblings. Some of our relatives are against with our relationship but we are both love with each other.
We're on the right age and planning to get married soon. I would like to ask if it is possible to marry her, if it is legal?
My girlfriend has fear to bear a child because of some stories of possible abnormalities of the baby. Is it true?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you very much and more power to you.
Renee
Dear Renee,
At a first glance, your relationship may seem incestuous. But, let me tell you the law, Article 38, Section 1 of the Revised Family Code of the Philippines, which article provides that the following marriages shall be void from the beginning for reasons of public policy:
(1) Between collateral blood relations, whether legitimate or illegitimate, up to the fourth civil degree. The law, however, counts the blood degree by direct lineage, where the counting would start from your mother as your 1st civil degree, then, your mother's parents are your 2nd civil degree, then, your mother's brother, who is your girlfriend's grandfather is your 3rd civil degree.
Then, your first cousin, which is your girlfriend's mother is your 4th civil degree, thereby, making the daughter of your first cousin your 5th degree. This would make you possible to marry your first cousin's daughter legally. Congrats!
As to the horrible stories that your girlfriend had heard about having a child with you, I will confine myself purely to the scientific side of the issue in general terms.
1. A marriage between close relatives increases the chance of developing some genetic abnormalities, but usually not chromosomal abnormalities.
2. Seventy five percent of the genes between first cousins or relatives are unique to them and not shared between then.
3. Most individuals carry one very serious genetic mutation in their bodies and thus nearly all couples related or unrelated will have abnormal genes in them but, these are rarely manifested.
4. The vast majority of serious abnormalities in pregnancies do not progress very far. Approximately 75 percent of conceptions never go beyond the first 6-8 weeks of pregnancy. These usually have some very serious developmental problem.
5. Most of the genetic or congenital abnormalities that do arise are from new mutations in eggs/sperm/embryo or developmental problems inside the uterus, like Down's syndrome, heart defects and more, they have no correlation with consanguity (close relationship between parents).
6. Many classically inherited disorders, like cystic fibrosis (the most common) invariably happen with unrelated parents as the underlying disorder is carried frequently in 1:20 in everyone.
7. Certain disorders, like haemophilia or thallassaemia that do run in families and where two individuals are known to carry this disorder (related or unrelated), carries an increased risk of this disorder in the future child.
8. Historically in the Royal Families of Europe over the last few centuries, marriage was invariably between 1st cousins to build bridges and maintain or propagate dynasties. But, other than haemophilia in these Royal families, there were little or no record of disorders arising in the many princes and princesses that were born.
I have enumerated to you some few important points that I hope you would find helpful in your understanding and decision making.
Most of the people who raise concerns over consanguity have little understanding of genetics and the risks and causes of congenital (majority are not inherited), hereditary and developmental disorders. This leads to a lot of confusion and misunderstanding as well as creating undue anxiety.
I am quite sure that both of you are now and would be fighting against the world since your relatives are quite against your relationship. It would be a very turbulent and uphill road! But, carry your own baggage and whenever those baggage may seem heavy along the way, don't ever complain -- because it was your choice in the first place!
If you truly love each other, do what is best for both of you!
Meditalk
PS. For your questions, you may send them to Meditalk, c/o Sunstar Davao, Granland Building, R. Castillo St,. Davao City or you e-mail them at dokfritz@yahoo.com.
