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December 24, 2013

A portrayal of Heaven on Earth: The Adoration of the Christ Child

The previous post discussed how one of the earliest representations of Down syndrome in Western Art had been identified. But what is significant about the painting? Continue Reading

Filed Under: A Life with Down syndrome, Informed Decision Making Tagged With: , , , ,
July 9, 2013

USA Today discriminates against Down syndrome

In a recent editorial, USA Today's editorial board expressed "Our view" that discriminates against Down syndrome and perpetuates the societal stigma against those with the genetic condition.  Continue Reading

Filed Under: Informed Decision Making, Termination Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
May 14, 2013

Didn’t you get tested? The normative effect of prenatal testing undermines reproductive freedom.

Medical organizations and bioethicists justify prenatal testing out of a respect for a woman's autonomy, her ability to control her reproductive choices. But society's view of prenatal testing can undermine that freedom. A recent Salon article adds to the evidence for this concern. Continue Reading

Filed Under: Informed Decision Making Tagged With: , , , , ,
November 19, 2012

The Informed Consent Process: Voluntariness

There are many ethical issues involved with prenatal testing for Down syndrome. I hope in time to address as many as possible. To start with, however, is the ethical concept that commentators have cited as making the offering of prenatal testing a moral obligation: informed consent. Informed consent has a rich history that developed in the United States through court decisions and was codified as an international norm in The Nuremberg Code. Out of respect for an individual's autonomy--the Continue Reading

Filed Under: Informed Decision Making, The Informed Consent Process Tagged With: , ,