I read this article this morning written by Dr. Brian Skotko, see his impressive credentials below:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2011-11-14/blood-test-down-syndrome/51202078/1
The article seemed to be pointing potential parents of Down Syndrome babies to seeing the value in all human life. He cites examples of citizens with Down Syndrome (including his own sister) living meaningful lives, or I would say rather, makes the case that we should deem them worthy by our standards.
And then he says something that just floored me:
"Yet, as a physician, I am not in the business of telling expectant couples what pregnancy decisions they should be making when their fetus has Down syndrome. That is their decision."
This statement from a Doctor with these credentials rocked me to my core. If our Doctors think that killing a patient with a health issue, is a way of resolving the health issue, then we have some big problems in health care in our country.
This Doctor seems open to eugenics, which is "selective breeding". Where do we take this slippery slope to next, if a Doctor who specializes in Down Syndrome is "ok" with the termination of the life of a human being with Down Syndrome in the womb? Who is next to be deemed "unworthy" of life because they do not meet our personal definition of a life worth living?
So this is the crux of the abortion debate, who gets to decide if another persons life is worthy of living?
By the way, the test can detect Down Syndrome at 10 weeks, the baby in my profile picture is 9 weeks. Also, I read an un-related post by a 16 year-old girl who was encouraged to abort, I thought she said something pretty profound and I think it applies here: "An abortion doesn't make you 'un-pregnant' it makes you the mother of a dead baby."
Brian Skotko is a physician in the Down Syndrome Program at Children's Hospital Boston. He serves on the board of directors of the National Down Syndrome Society and the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress.
