Mongolian idiocy

The obsolete medical terms Mongolian idiocy and Mongolism referred to a specific type of mental deficiency, associated with the genetic disorder now known as Down syndrome. The obsolete term for a person with this syndrome was called a Mongolian idiot.

In the 21st century, these terms are no longer used as medical terminology, deemed an unacceptable, offensive and misleading description of those with Down syndrome.^[1] The terminology change was brought about both by scientific and medical experts,^[2] as well as people of Asian ancestry,^[2] including those from Mongolia.^[3]

The stand-alone term "idiot" itself has a similar history of meaning and connotation change.^[4]

^ Rodríguez-Hernández, M. Luisa; Montoya, Eladio (2011-07-30). "Fifty years of evolution of the term Down syndrome". Lancet. 378 (9789): 402. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61212-9. ISSN 1474-547X. PMID 21803206. S2CID 8541289.
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference Ward1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Howard1979 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference mw was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[fifty-1] Rodríguez-Hernández, M. Luisa; Montoya, Eladio (2011-07-30). "Fifty years of evolution of the term Down syndrome". Lancet. 378 (9789): 402. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61212-9. ISSN 1474-547X. PMID 21803206. S2CID 8541289.

[Ward1999-2] Cite error: The named reference Ward1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Howard1979-3] Cite error: The named reference Howard1979 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[mw-4] Cite error: The named reference mw was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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