So the headline ran after ACOG changed its guidelines for prenatal genetic testing. Um, except that's not what "Doctors say." It's just how everyone understands what ACOG meant when it changed the standard of care for when women are to be offered prenatal genetic testing. Continue Reading
October 8, 2020
Chapter 2, Part 8: The ethical bedrock for prenatal genetic testing is shifting sand
September 29, 2020
On Supreme Court Nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Down syndrome, & Abortion
Judge Barret and her family President Trump nominated 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court on September 26, 2020. Judge Barrett's youngest son happens to have Down syndrome. She has also spoken and written about her Catholic faith. These and other factors have many wondering what the future holds for Roe v. Wade. Continue Reading
September 16, 2020
Chapter 2, Part 7: “Willing to Take the Risk”
Picking up where Part 6 left off, we continue to explore prenatal genetic screening. Read on for the visual reason why an ultrasound screening technique was developed for Down syndrome and how the obstetrician pictured above explained why ACOG changed its guidelines so that all women were to be offered prenatal genetic testing for Down syndrome. Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Planned Parenthood’s Superficial Cancelling of Margaret Sanger
Bust of Margaret Sanger at the National Portrait Gallery In the summer of 2020, Planned Parenthood announced it would remove the name of Margaret Sanger, the organization's founder, from its Manhattan Health Clinic for her statements in support of eugenics. But Planned Parenthood continues to advocate for eugenic practices. Continue Reading
September 2, 2020
Chapter 2, Part 5: Ignoring a Necessary Element for a Screening Program
Why, after attending the first full day of the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis in Miami, Florida in 2012, was I drinking from a fifth of Wild Turkey on the beach long after the sun had gone down? Read on to find out. Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
Down syndrome has always been a part of us
Were Jaguar Child Sculpture With the discovery of the earliest identified case of Down syndrome ever, it furthers the view that Down syndrome has always been a part of us. Continue Reading
June 9, 2020
Coronavirus: sixteen times more lethal for kids with intellectual disabilities
Four studies about the effects of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities all conclude the same thing: its effects are more severe and lethal for these patients. Continue Reading
May 21, 2020
IDM TF: May 2020 Highlights
Here are the highlights from the May conference call of the Informed Decision Making Task Force: lessons learned, best practices, and suggestions for effective medical outreach and new and expectant parent support. Continue Reading
May 19, 2020
Chapter 2, Part 6: A lawsuit changes prenatal care
With the first four installments of Chapter 2 covering diagnostic genetic testing, we now turn to prenatal genetic screening. The previous installments can be found here. Read on to learn how a lawsuit, not science, changed the standard of care for prenatal genetic testing for Down syndrome. Continue Reading
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