On the same day, two major medical professional organizations announced their respective position statements concerning the newest form of prenatal testing for Down syndrome. There is A LOT to analyze, but here are some instant highlights from both. Continue Reading
April 5, 2013
A new age of prenatal testing for Down syndrome: a new name, new policy statements, and recognized resources for patients
April 3, 2013
Does the North Dakota law banning Down syndrome-selective abortions impose an undue burden?
I wrote last week about North Dakota's new law prohibiting sex-selective and Down syndrome-selective abortions. What will the law's impact be, and will it be struck down as unconstitutional? Continue Reading
April 2, 2013
Outlawing abortion won’t help children with Down syndrome? History might suggest otherwise.
Earlier this week, the New York Times Motherlode blog featured a post by Alison Piepmeier with the headline: "Outlawing abortion won't help children with Down syndrome?" Much of what she wrote echoed points I have made previously, but there is a distinction based on historical examples. Continue Reading
March 28, 2013
The nonmaleficent role of NIPT
At last week's ACMG Annual Clinical Meeting, I presented a poster titled "The Ethics of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing." It turns out that the logic of my argument could very well be reflected in practice guidelines that are soon-to-be-released. I doubt the force of my abstract submitted last winter is to account for the change. But, it is a bit ironic that because NIPT will cause a test with risk to potentially have greater risk, NIPT has justified itself being inserted as a step before the test Continue Reading
March 26, 2013
North Dakota enacts law banning Down syndrome-selective abortion
Yesterday, the Governor of North Dakota signed House Bill 1305, prohibiting sex-selective abortion and abortion for genetic abnormality. That same day, the Governor also signed a law banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected. As a result, with abortion being invoked, the media reporting and instant comments devolved into pro-life/pro-choice arguments. But let's look at the actual language of the law that concerns Down syndrome abortions and see what it actually says before we choose Continue Reading
March 25, 2013
Why is there prenatal testing for Down syndrome?
At my very first national medical conference, I received an answer to the question: why is there prenatal testing for Down syndrome? I have shared the response I received in many presentations. At last week’s ACMG conference, I learned of another reason. It struck me as profound. I wonder what you think about it. Continue Reading
February 20, 2013
What is a legacy?
In this post-modern, existential age, it can cause some to wonder what's the point of anything. How can we say anything we do truly matters? Well, on Monday, we said goodbye to a lady whose actions many families would say mattered to them. Continue Reading
February 19, 2013
What do you say when you hear the “R-word”?
Recently, my wife and I went out for a nice evening. That was the intention, at least. Then, at dinner, we overheard from our neighboring table the "r-word." I wonder, what do you say when you hear the "r-word"? Continue Reading
February 7, 2013
What I hope Daniel Day-Lewis says at the Oscars
Daniel Day-Lewis is the odds-on favorite to win a historic third Best Actor Oscar. I hope he will say what we thought he would say in 2008, and speak to the billion people watching on the value of his brother-in-law. Continue Reading
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