Steven Levitt writes on the recent study suggesting a majority of parents decide to abort when faced with a diagnosis of Down Syndrome:
I suspect, though, that many parents of children with Down Syndrome would say that raising that child is incredibly rewarding. As a parent, I have found that the greatest pleasures are in watching your child achieve a goal. It doesn’t matter what; it can be anything. Being up on stage in a first-grade play, buying a trinket at the store by herself for the first time, riding a bike. It is always especially touching when a child overcomes obstacles. A shy child goes off on her first sleepover, for instance. My guess is that the underdog nature of a child with Down Syndrome makes the little accomplishments that much more satisfying for their parents.
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Having grown up with, and eventually burying a relative with Down’s Syndrome, I think that those who think that a life not worth living are just plain ignorant. She was one of the most important persons in the life of the entire extended family, and in her life, taught compassion and perspective to at least three generations.
I’m not sure what is worse: a medical community that wants to facilitate eliminating children with Trisomy 21 from the population, or a society that quietly and willingly goes along with it.
What percentage of the kids with Down Syndrome that were aborted were in agreement with their parents’ decision?
The movement to make health the centrepiece of The New Religion, makes disease and it’s tolerance a sin. We see it the anti-obesity and anti-smoking nazi’s(most of whom are physicians) and now in the norming of routinely aborting the imperfect. Don’t these folks realize that health and normality is not the purpose of life?
It isn’t the health care establishment that is pushing this. Parents and prospective parents want it. With the benefit of hindsight, and realizing the financial and emotional costs of disabled children, parents sue and win damanges if obstetricians do not offer every available test.
Through the courts, a vocal minority has effectively determined that obstetricians will actively push parents to use every testing modality possible. They have to do this to remain insurable and in business.
It isn’t the health care establishment that is pushing this. Parents and prospective parents want it. With the benefit of hindsight, and realizing the financial and emotional costs of disabled children, parents sue and win damanges if obstetricians do not offer every available test.
Through the courts, a vocal minority has effectively determined that obstetricians will actively push parents to use every testing modality possible. They have to do this to remain insurable and in business.
It isn’t the health care establishment that is pushing this. Parents and prospective parents want it. With the benefit of hindsight, and realizing the financial and emotional costs of disabled children, parents sue and win damanges if obstetricians do not offer every available test.
Through the courts, a vocal minority has effectively determined that obstetricians will actively push parents to use every testing modality possible. They have to do this to remain insurable and in business.
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