In her recent blog post at the Huffington Post, Dr. Anne Drapkin Lyerly, a doctor who chaired ACOG's ethics committee, says she has found the "Holy Grail" of prenatal testing in Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS). Is she correct? Continue Reading
August 12, 2013
“We never thought for a moment we would aid in the eradication of Down syndrome”
NBC News's Health blog featured a long post on the new research that "turns off" the extra 21st Chromosome in Down syndrome. There are many things to learn from it. Continue Reading
July 17, 2013
On Down syndrome prenatal testing, they don’t get to have it both ways
The recent press releases by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the video above show the inconsistency in policy positions in obstetric care. Regarding Down syndrome prenatal testing, they shouldn't get to have it both ways. Continue Reading
July 11, 2013
Is it already happening or are Down syndrome births disappearing because of the all-time low U.S. birthrate?
I have asked for reports from local parent support organizations by next Monday, July 15, 2013, on the number of births they have welcomed in 2013 and in the past several years. The more reports received from across the nation will give a better picture of whether this is a part of a national trend. Continue Reading
July 10, 2013
Hundreds signing up to adopt a child with Down syndrome should not be surprising
A recent news story reported as a surprising result that hundreds of parents had volunteered to adopt a child when the call was put out. The turnout was indeed overwhelming, but in the end only one couple will adopt this child. Hopefully the hundreds of others will reach out to adopt the many other children with Down syndrome waiting to be adopted. Continue Reading
July 9, 2013
USA Today discriminates against Down syndrome
In a recent editorial, USA Today's editorial board expressed "Our view" that discriminates against Down syndrome and perpetuates the societal stigma against those with the genetic condition. Continue Reading
July 1, 2013
Is it already happening? Tracking Down syndrome births so far in 2013.
In previous posts, I have written of a concern that others have shared about whether Down syndrome will disappear as prenatal testing advances. Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action (DSAIA) has posted a request of mine seeking groups to report their numbers of referrals for births so far in 2013. This is prompted by one organization receiving only two birth referrals when they would ordinarily have welcomed at least 10 new babies at this same time in previous years. Click here to read the full Continue Reading
June 26, 2013
What every woman needs to know about Down syndrome prenatal testing, a review
Earlier this year, Amy Julia Becker released a new book entitled, What Every Woman Needs to Know about Prenatal Testing: insight from a mom who has been there." As with everything Becker writes, it intertwines compassion with needed analysis of a decision all pregnant women will confront in this new age of prenatal testing. Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
The power of context: how what’s missing informs the context
In previous posts, I have asked whether Down syndrome is already disappearing and the power of context as the remaining element to tip prenatal testing to the point of an epidemic. Here's how the first post reinforces the second. Continue Reading
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