Discriminatory impact of Down syndrome selective abortion

Regularly there are positive news reports raising awareness about what a life with Down syndrome can be. Gerber baby food selected for the first time ever a baby with Down syndrome to be its “Gerber baby.” The re-launched American Idol featured a young man with Down syndrome singing with a contestant. And, 50 moms created a carpool karaoke video with their children with Down syndrome that moved James Corden to tears. But, it has not been all good news reported. Continue Reading

Ohio’s Down Syndrome Abortion Bill: Avoiding the Issue

For the second time, an Ohio state representative has introduced a bill to ban abortion when the stated reason is a prenatal test result for Down syndrome. The debate about the bill, and the measure itself, avoid the issue about Down syndrome selective abortion.  Continue Reading

Persistent challenges: bigotry and ethical prenatal testing

A visit to National Park sites, a presentation to medical professionals in Kansas City, a violent protest in Charlottesville, and a news report out of Iceland all came together in less than a week as a reminder of the persistent challenge of our bigotry against our fellow human beings.  Continue Reading

Iowa Supreme Court recognizes wrongful birth claim

On June 2, 2017, the Iowa Supreme Court recognized for the first time the claim of "wrongful birth". The Court also recognized that the state legislature may enact legislation barring such claims.  Continue Reading

GONE: estimate reduced by 20% of people with Down syndrome in United States

In 2013, researchers estimated that the total number of people living in the United States was 40% less than the historically cited number. Three years later, that estimate has been revised down further by 20%. Continue Reading

Abortion: hard to talk about when no one will say the word

The American College of Medical Genetics & Genomics (ACMG) issued an updated statement on how cell free DNA screening should be done. It's not clear, though, why cfDNA screening should be done. Continue Reading

Indiana Federal Judge: Down syndrome selective abortions will increase & preventing them would be irreparable harm

A federal judge has ruled that Indiana's statutory ban on Down syndrome-selective abortions is likely unconstitutional and to not allow women to selectively terminate would amount to irreparable harm.  Continue Reading

For medical elites, prenatal testing for Down syndrome is to allow for abortion

The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have issued new guidelines on the administration of prenatal screening and diagnostic testing. A critical reading of the guidelines makes clear that the justifications given for prenatal testing are limited in the case of Down syndrome to allowing for aborting the pregnancy and that preserving the availability of abortion as an option is the primary concern in the administration of prenatal Continue Reading

Abortion and Down syndrome prenatal testing

Two developments in the Spring of 2016 have focused on abortion and Down syndrome prenatal testing.  Continue Reading