Down syndrome, more so than any other prenatally detectable genetic condition, occupies a central position in the field of prenatal diagnostics (PND). In the current public debate on non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), the option of prenatal selection is discussed in light of changing societal attitudes towards disability, with a move towards greater inclusion and participation. The expansion of PND raises, not least, the question of whether the practice of prenatal medicine conveys a deficit-oriented image of disability. This doctoral thesis examines this medical-ethical and societal issue from a historical perspective. It takes as its starting point the question of whether and how the perception of Down syndrome has changed in Germany since the introduction of prenatal diagnostics in the 1970s. To provide an empirical basis, a qualitative content analysis is used to examine how Down syndrome is portrayed in selected German print media. The timeframe is defined by the introduction of new diagnostic procedures, such as amniocentesis (1970s), the triple screening test (1990s), NIPT, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (2010s). The results show how perceptions and views of Down syndrome have evolved within the tension between shifting social values and medical progress. Building on these findings, the underlying assumptions of the medical ethics debate regarding the potential consequences of PND for people with Down syndrome are empirically contextualised and critically examined. This study makes an important contribution to understanding the historical continuities underlying a highly relevant societal issue.