Last year, the American Congress of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) issued its position statement on non-invasive prenatal screening, recommending it be offered to high-risk expectant mothers. This year, ACOG, along with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, recommends a new form of diagnostic testing for expectant mothers. Continue Reading
December 16, 2013
Women are deformed freaks and Down syndrome is defective: Onion satire cuts deep
In 2013, The Onion said that baby girls are "deformed freaks" and that Down syndrome is a defect. The latter, particularly, made some people mad. Continue Reading
December 3, 2013
What to expect when you’re expecting: give the baby some gin?
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 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 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
November 15, 2013
Where the DoD/VA prenatal testing guidelines fall short: the need for post-test counseling
With Veterans Day starting off this week, I have been examining the Department of Defense/Veterans Administrations guidelines concerning prenatal genetic testing. So far, the guidelines provide the most robust recommendations for pre-test counseling. Here, however, is where the guidelines fall short. Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
When expectant moms learn more about prenatal testing, what do they choose?
Yesterday's post shared how the Department of Defense/Veterans Administration guidelines recognize the need for genetic counseling when offering prenatal testing. One of the methods was group counseling, in which the guidelines said participants learned best as compared to individual counseling or decision aids. What do participants choose then, that have learned best through group counseling? Continue Reading
November 13, 2013
DoD: counseling needed for Down syndrome prenatal testing
On Monday, Veterans Day, I featured the prenatal testing guidelines for the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Administration (VA). Those guidelines make clear the need for patient counseling when offering prenatal testing for Down syndrome and other genetic conditions. Continue Reading
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