Obstetricians and gynecologists are still grappling with the new industry guidelines on prenatal screening for Down syndrome. So when a group of them gathered in St. Louis last week to talk about the guidelines, they brought in some backup: A medical malpractice plaintiff’s attorney, a nurse, a member of the president’s council on bioethics … and me. Please see my remarks here:
My message:

If all women are to be offered prenatal screening, then those offers must take place as part of a coordinated, industry-wide process that offers full and complete information about both the tests and the lives of people with Down syndrome, is respectful of all parties involved, and honors the true spirit of informed consent.

I was fortunate in being able to share with the physicians a slideshow of some quite remarkable portraits by gifted UK photographer Richard Bailey. He has embarked upon a project documenting the lives of people who, like his daughter, have Down syndrome, and his work spotlights their personalities, character and individuality. Please do take a look. His portraits have a life all their own.

In informal conversations after the panel discussion, I heard physicians express frustration at what they perceive as an increasingly polarized system in which parents have unrealistic expectations for “perfect” babies, and doctors conduct costly prenatal tests and screens for the primary purpose of warding off litigation.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 at 12:33 pm and is filed under Down syndrome, NOT2BEMISSED, medicine, prenatal diagnosis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.