Sort of. But a key addition to Louisiana's law may result in expectant mothers actually NOT receiving information about Down syndrome. Continue Reading
May 12, 2014
Delaware and Maryland join Massachusetts and Kentucky in enacting laws to provide information with a Down syndrome test result
Last week, Governor O'Malley of Maryland and then Governor Markell of Delaware each signed laws requiring that their state agencies provide accurate, up-to-date information about Down syndrome for parents receiving a test result. They join Massachusetts (2012) and Kentucky (2013) in passing such legislation. Continue Reading
February 18, 2014
Erecting and tearing down barriers to inclusion
Between attending the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine annual conference one week, celebrating my son's birthday the next, and now preparing to attend the Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action conference, I have a backlog of news headlines I've been meaning to share. Here are some on how measures large and small can impact and include those with Down syndrome and other disabilities: Continue Reading
November 11, 2013
What does the Department of Defense say about Down syndrome prenatal testing?
With today being Veterans Day in the United States, let's see what the Department of Defense says about prenatal testing for Down syndrome. Continue Reading
October 18, 2013
Doctors to provide Down syndrome resources under new law
So reads the headline in Medical News, which published my article on the Down Syndrome Information Act in its October issue--appropriate for National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Here are the relevant links for the article. Continue Reading
April 5, 2013
A new age of prenatal testing for Down syndrome: a new name, new policy statements, and recognized resources for patients
On the same day, two major medical professional organizations announced their respective position statements concerning the newest form of prenatal testing for Down syndrome. There is A LOT to analyze, but here are some instant highlights from both. Continue Reading
April 3, 2013
Does the North Dakota law banning Down syndrome-selective abortions impose an undue burden?
I wrote last week about North Dakota's new law prohibiting sex-selective and Down syndrome-selective abortions. What will the law's impact be, and will it be struck down as unconstitutional? Continue Reading
April 2, 2013
Outlawing abortion won’t help children with Down syndrome? History might suggest otherwise.
Earlier this week, the New York Times Motherlode blog featured a post by Alison Piepmeier with the headline: "Outlawing abortion won't help children with Down syndrome?" Much of what she wrote echoed points I have made previously, but there is a distinction based on historical examples. Continue Reading
March 15, 2013
Kentucky joins Massachusetts in expanding information about Down syndrome
Yesterday, Governor Steve Beshear signed into law Senate Bill 34, referred to already as "The Down Syndrome Information Bill." The bill was patterned after a 2012 Massachusetts law. It requires that any health care professional or facility that delivers a Down syndrome diagnosis, prenatally or postnatally, also provide the family with up-to-date, evidence-based, written information and the contact information for national and local support programs and services, specifically listing Down Continue Reading
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