Abortion and Down syndrome prenatal testing

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

Response to Art Caplan: provide ALL the recommended information with prenatal testing for Down syndrome

  The headline for Art Caplan’s March column for Medscape asked “Disclosing Down syndrome to pregnant patients: must you give an upside?” In it, Caplan raises concerns about recent legislative efforts concerning delivering test results for Down syndrome. His concerns, however, are not based on what those laws actually require. Continue Reading

Eugenics: then and now in the era of prenatal testing for Down syndrome

Is prenatal testing for Down syndrome eugenics? Let's compare how eugenics programs were justified in the past with how prenatal testing is currently administered. Continue Reading

Indiana bans Down syndrome selective abortions

Well ... not exactly. Read to the end to see what the law says, what it actually does, and the problem that it codifies about Down syndrome.  Continue Reading

Abortion, the Supreme Court, & Down syndrome

Wednesday, March 2, 2016, the United Supreme Court heard arguments on the first major abortion case before it in years. It reveals what is at issue with the vacancy on the court due to Justice Scalia's death and the option most women choose following a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome: abortion. Continue Reading

Ohio’s Down Syndrome Fact Sheet: Revision Needed

At the end of 2014, Ohio joined the states in passing the Down Syndrome Information Act (DSIA). Almost a year later, its Department of Health has issued the fact sheet to be provided all patients. Let's take a look at it. Continue Reading

Obstetricians’ 2016 Resolutions for Prenatal Genetic Testing

With the start of 2016, obstetricians, like everyone else, are making their New Year's resolutions. Here are their resolutions for counseling their patients about prenatal genetic testing.  Continue Reading

Will the FDA regulate Sequenom (and other cfDNA labs)?

Sequenom launched its MaterniT21 cell free DNA screen on the marketplace in October 2011. Four years later, screens like Sequenom's remain largely unregulated. The FDA is moving to change that. Continue Reading

The ABLE Act: changing the cost of a life with Down syndrome

Since the House of Representatives passed the ABLE Act in December 2014, it has gone on to be enacted into law with dozens of states already enacting enabling legislation for the ABLE savings accounts and the Treasury Department finalizing regulations for these accounts. A thought occurred on the impact these savings accounts will also have on prenatal genetic testing. Continue Reading