Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The Perfect Storm now faces those with Down syndrome

My eloquent friend and co-founder of KIDS, Keep Infants with Down Syndrome  Eileen Haupt has really nailed it on this opinion piece for the Burlington Free Press.
Here's the heart of her piece;

There has never been a better time -- in the history of mankind -- for babies with Down syndrome to be born. There is better recognition of their potential, greater knowledge about this genetic condition, supportive laws, inclusion in schools, exciting new research that may lead to treatments for cognitive challenges, and in general, more understanding. In particular, advanced medical technology has significantly improved the quality and longevity of their lives.
But it seems advanced medical technology is a double-edged sword. For it has also enabled the development of more-accurate methods of prenatal testing to diagnose babies while still in the womb, thereby making them targets for abortion. Dr. Brian Skotko of Children's Hospital in Boston estimates that a shocking 92 percent of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome in utero are aborted.
Why is the moment just BEFORE we are about to have a scientific breakthrough in treatment for the cognitive delays of Down syndrome, are we also preparing to "eradicate the disease"? Are we deliberately turning a blind eye to science or so determined to form "the perfect race" that we don't care if things have never been better for those with extra chromosomes.
It makes me very sad and angry this Culture of Death. Oh Lord, we stand in need of Your grace!


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1 comment:

Christina Dunigan said...

Cue the peasants from "Beauty and the Beast" -- "We don't like what we don't understand. In fact it scares us."