A recent column collected medical advice written about pregnancy 100 years ago. It serves as a reminder for critical thinking about medical recommendations for pregnant moms. Continue Reading
November 27, 2013
Is non-directiveness in prenatal genetic testing a myth?: Gladwell’s Blink and implicit associations of Down syndrome
On Sunday, 60 Minutes profiled author Malcolm Gladwell on his new book about underdogs. In a previous book Blink, Gladwell explored how we think without thinking. His writing explains why some people laugh at the notion of non-directive counseling about prenatal testing. Continue Reading
November 26, 2013
Aldous Huxley and the Brave New World of prenatal genetic testing
In marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK, I also remembered the death on that same day of noted author C.S. Lewis. But, I failed to mention the death of another author whose best-known work is regularly referenced in reports about prenatal genetic testing. Continue Reading
November 25, 2013
“Any/Particular” critique of disability selective abortion: remembering Adrienne Asch
Over the weekend, an important voice in the discussion of the ethics of prenatal testing for disability fell silent. Adrienne Asch made critical contributions from a seemingly conflicted position: vigorously pro-choice but condemning of selective abortion for disability. Continue Reading
November 22, 2013
“We choose to go to the moon:” remembering John F. Kennedy, C.S. Lewis, the power of imagination, and choosing Down syndrome
Today we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a very sad day in our nation's history. The words of President Kennedy, and the words of someone else who died that same day, share a wisdom about how we should make choices for our future. Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
Sweden: more Down syndrome prenatal testing, more selective abortion
That is the news out of Sweden: as prenatal testing for Down syndrome has expanded, there have been more abortions following a Down syndrome diagnosis. What do you think about the way this news was reported? Continue Reading
November 20, 2013
Sequenom’s testing is not patentable: uses conventional techniques, not innovative
At the end of October, Judge Susan Illston of the Northern District federal court of California ruled that Sequenom's patent for its non-invasive testing was not patentable. Here's the surprising reasons why: Continue Reading
November 19, 2013
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here …
Today is the 150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. President Lincoln predicted that "the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here." By marking this anniversary, hopefully we will prove Lincoln wrong. Continue Reading
November 17, 2013
“Just because something’s always been done that way, doesn’t mean it should continue to be done that way”
"But that's how we've always done it." Who has not heard this--in a group project, at a business meeting, when someone proposes changing the order of a church service--and been incredibly frustrated? Here's a lesson from someone who decided to do something different. Continue Reading
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