Canadian doctor warns Palin's decision to have DS baby could reduce abortion

[mamacags]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/sarah-palin-dow.html

Canadian doctor warns Sarah Palin's decision to have Down baby could reduce abortions
Sarah and Todd Palin's decision to complete her recent pregnancy, despite advance notice that their baby Trig had Down syndrome, is hailed by many in the pro-life movement as walking the walk as well as talking the talk.

But a senior Canadian doctor is now expressing concerns that such a prominent public role model as the governor of Alaska and potential vice president of the United States completing a Down syndrome pregnancy may prompt other women to make the same decision against abortion because of that genetic abnormality. And thereby reduce the number of abortions.

Published reports in Canada say about 9 out of 10 women given a diagnosis of Down syndrome choose to terminate the pregnancy through abortion.
Dr. Andre Lalonde, executive vice president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Ottawa, worries that Palin's now renowned decision may cause abortions in Canada to decline as other women there and elsewhere opt to follow suit.

He says not every woman is prepared to deal with the consequences of Down babies, who have developmental delays, some physical difficulties and often a shortened lifespan.

Wider use of blood screening and amniocentesis during pregnancies can now accurately predict the presence of Down syndrome.

Lalonde says his primary concern is that women have the....

...choice of abortion and that greater public awareness of women making choices like Palin to complete a pregnancy and give birth to their genetically-abnormal baby could be detrimental and confusing to the women and their families.

"The worry is that this will have an implication for abortion issues in Canada," Lalonde tells the Globe and Mail.(moron at link)

I want to kick him square in the balls right now so I will not comment further on this

[Flame]

Warning that there could be fewer abortions like thats a BAD thing?????   

[thundley4]

Did this moron even think about what he was saying?  Even the so-called "Pro-choicers" ,(read Pro-Abortion), say that decreasing abortions is a good thing.   

[bijou]

I am lost for words at his attitude.

[JohnnyReb]

What's her problem.

1- Doctor looking out for her bottom line, maybe?
2- Afraid it might reduce the # of unwanted pregnacies thru safer sex?
3- Reduce the amount of risky sex?
4- Or just spouting off like a good liberal?

[JohnnyReb]

What's her problem.

1- Doctor looking out for her bottom line, maybe?
2- Afraid it might reduce the # of unwanted pregnacies thru safer sex?
3- Reduce the amount of risky sex?
4- Or just spouting off like a good liberal?

OOOPS! It's a he......Andre.......must be french. I was thinking Andrea.

[Red October]

But a senior Canadian doctor is now expressing concerns that such a prominent public role model as the governor of Alaska and potential vice president of the United States completing a Down syndrome pregnancy may prompt other women to make the same decision against abortion because of that genetic abnormality. And thereby reduce the number of abortions.

... prompting Red October to express concerns that said Canadian doctor is a black-hearted gas bag who's completely missed the point and isn't happy unless she's gnawing on the bones of a dismembered fetus.  

[Lauri]

dont forget... abortions are a huge business in this country, and possibly canada.

less abortions means less govt dollars for those companies that do abortions.

its all about the children ... dollars.

[Red October]

MORE WOMEN MAY WANT TO ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR BABIES!  WE CAN NOT LET THIS HAPPEN!  THEY NEED TO BE FORCEFULLY REMINDED OF THE CHOICE WE'RE FREE TO MAKE FOR THEM!  

[Chris_]

Doctor warns that doing the right thing may reduce the number of babies killed, in-utero or POST-utero.

Can't have that, now, can we?

[jinxmchue]

Lalonde says his primary concern is that women have the....

...choice of abortion

Bull.  Shit.

[jinxmchue]

Ha!  The comments on that website are priceless!

[Ptarmigan]

Does people know that people with Down's Syndrome can live longer lives and even be productive citizens.

[Lauri]

i thought about this story all night, and then this morning..

are we to believe that doctors hold the keys to every disease and malady that could befall our children after they are born? is there some special law written somewhere that says ALL of us will have kids who outlive us and never have any health issues?

this doctor is just plain insane to suggest that a child who doesnt live to 90 years old is not worth having.

my dad lived to his mid 60s and his mother into her 90s... should we now start rationalizing the birthing of children on how their lives might be? cause we all know doctors NEVER make mistakes on prenatal suggestions. 

[formerlurker]

1) amniocentesis is not an exact science, and as such can be wrong when predicting Downs.

2) more women who choose to carry their child instead of abortion will mean more children with developmental disabilities entering our school systems.   Special needs children are expensive to educate, and hell yes they can learn and be very productive members of their communities (my friend's son with Down Sydrome just started his second year at a community college -- he got As and Bs his first year.   He is taking classes in theater, music and art).  

Why am I saying this?   Because I am a  mom of a child with autism.  Advocating fiercely for my son is my full-time job.  School Districts would rather place him in a windowless classroom in the basement than educate him.   However, I kind of have issue with that and fought like hell to get him into the best school in the country for autism.   Every day, week, month and year is consumed with reading articles, attending workshops, conferences, committees -- all to stay on top of laws, regulations, directives, treatment protocols so my son gets the best possible education and treatment I can get for him.  

While we may all want abortion to be illegal, we need to remember that these children will require services to become active and contributing members of their communities (and not wards of the state).    All I ask is that you remember that the next time special education is debated.  

Sarah Palin is going to advocate for my child.    I am going to stand with her when she does, and my hope is that you will also.

  

[DarkHalo]

When my ex wife was pregnant with our oldest son we didnt have health care and were going thru a local low cost clinic. They did an amniosyntesis and found a certain protein level that was sky high. They said this was a guarantee of Down Syndrome and they suggested an abortion. We talked it over, not that abortion was a real consideration for either of us, and decided we would not abort our baby. Well, he is 26 years old now, has been in the Army, and now works for FedEx. In other words he is perfectly a normal (except for being a bit of a lib) guy that I love dearly and cant imagine how much poorer my life would have been without him. They pushed us HARD to have an abortion too. How many thousands of perfectly normal children have been killed over tests that mean nothing? Let me ask this...how fast would the gay community become fervently prolife if scientists found a 'gay gene' that would indicate possible homosexuality and could be tested for in an amnio?

[Lauri]

Rush is reading this article on the air right now!  

[jtyangel]

1) amniocentesis is not an exact science, and as such can be wrong when predicting Downs.

2) more women who choose to carry their child instead of abortion will mean more children with developmental disabilities entering our school systems.   Special needs children are expensive to educate, and hell yes they can learn and be very productive members of their communities (my friend's son with Down Sydrome just started his second year at a community college -- he got As and Bs his first year.   He is taking classes in theater, music and art). 

Why am I saying this?   Because I am a  mom of a child with autism.  Advocating fiercely for my son is my full-time job.  School Districts would rather place him in a windowless classroom in the basement than educate him.   However, I kind of have issue with that and fought like hell to get him into the best school in the country for autism.   Every day, week, month and year is consumed with reading articles, attending workshops, conferences, committees -- all to stay on top of laws, regulations, directives, treatment protocols so my son gets the best possible education and treatment I can get for him.   

While we may all want abortion to be illegal, we need to remember that these children will require services to become active and contributing members of their communities (and not wards of the state).    All I ask is that you remember that the next time special education is debated.   

Sarah Palin is going to advocate for my child.    I am going to stand with her when she does, and my hope is that you will also.

 

I'm with you! i'm a mother of an autistic son too, but on this very board I've fought my own fellow conservative on the issue of education special needs children. On that point, I think when it comes to life, we can sometimes be our own worst enemies on this side when special needs children don't fit into our beliefs against taxation or public schooling, but the fact of the matter is that most families with children like this WILL need public help...not necessarily financially, but emotionally too. One thing that is correct in the foul statement above is that many women(and their families) are not prepared either emotionally or financially for the workt hat will come with a special needs child. This is an area that conservatives MUST be consistent on to be taken seriously in regards to pro-life issues.

That said, thank God for people like Sarah Palin who prove that 'our kids' are worthy to be front and center like anyone else and more importantly that they deserve their lives as much as any fully functioning healthy person born.

[Lanie]

dont forget... abortions are a huge business in this country, and possibly canada.

less abortions means less govt dollars for those companies that do abortions.

its all about the children ... dollars.

Canada has universal healthcare. This in turn makes people less motivated to learn how to perform third trimester abortions. This causes those who seek third trimester abortions to come down here. I don't think Canada is rolling in the dinero up there.

With that being said, women are stronger than the doctor gives them credit for. I think more can handle it than he realizes.

My main concern about the subject used to be that once a parent is no longer able to take care of one with Downs Syndrome, then what? However, I've learned there are more resources than I thought regarding that.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Personally I regard amnio as not worth the risk unless there is a huge indicator, I have seen countless variations on the child being killed or damaged by infection admitted through that tiny penetration.  We were taking whatever came out, no question, with all four of ours.

[Hawkgirl]

Oh Canada....this is the country Obama wants to emulate when it comes to Healthcare???
Canada, one of only a few nations with no legal restrictions on abortion.  Where a 12 year old can get an abortion without parental consent or knowledge.  Where there are 30 abortions for every 100 births.

And I found this little tidbit,
 "Third-trimester abortions are not generally available. For instance, in Quebec, there is currently no doctor who will perform a third-term abortion unless the health of the woman is in great peril or there is a genetic disorder. Currently the province sends women who seek to have third-term abortions performed to the United States. Quebec is currently actively looking to hire a doctor to do third-term abortions, but has not been successful as of October 2004."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_Canada

[overlord]

Does people know that people with Down's Syndrome can live longer lives and even be productive citizens.

Exactly, I have a nephew with DS, and a$$hats like this really  :censored:me off!

[Ptarmigan]

When my ex wife was pregnant with our oldest son we didnt have health care and were going thru a local low cost clinic. They did an amniosyntesis and found a certain protein level that was sky high. They said this was a guarantee of Down Syndrome and they suggested an abortion. We talked it over, not that abortion was a real consideration for either of us, and decided we would not abort our baby. Well, he is 26 years old now, has been in the Army, and now works for FedEx. In other words he is perfectly a normal (except for being a bit of a lib) guy that I love dearly and cant imagine how much poorer my life would have been without him. They pushed us HARD to have an abortion too. How many thousands of perfectly normal children have been killed over tests that mean nothing? Let me ask this...how fast would the gay community become fervently prolife if scientists found a 'gay gene' that would indicate possible homosexuality and could be tested for in an amnio?

Proof, that any tests are not 100 percent accurate. There will always be false positives and negatives.

[Lauri]

dont forget... abortions are a huge business in this country, and possibly canada.

less abortions means less govt dollars for those companies that do abortions.

its all about the children ... dollars.

Canada has universal healthcare. This in turn makes people less motivated to learn how to perform third trimester abortions. This causes those who seek third trimester abortions to come down here. I don't think Canada is rolling in the dinero up there. With that being said, women are stronger than the doctor gives them credit for. I think more can handle it than he realizes.

My main concern about the subject used to be that once a parent is no longer able to take care of one with Downs Syndrome, then what? However, I've learned there are more resources than I thought regarding that.

of course there are more resources - its called adoption.

and Canada pays for abortions on demand. they do not come to the US for that, not even in the third trimester. their liberal govt is more than happy to off any extra kids who will get cradle to grave support.

[Lauri]

Personally I regard amnio as not worth the risk unless there is a huge indicator, I have seen countless variations on the child being killed or damaged by infection admitted through that tiny penetration.  We were taking whatever came out, no question, with all four of ours.

Amnio seems to be more for a protective thing for the doctors the past 20 years or so. if they can detect and possibly fix everything pre-birth, then they get sued less.

or so they thought..