The headline on a story by Rob Hotakainen in the Wichita Eagle describes the Prenatally and Postnally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act as an “abortion bill.” The measure, co-sponsored by Sens. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), at left, and Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), would provide for accurate medical information to be offered to parents who receive a diagnosis of a disability either before birth or up to a year after the birth of a child.

Hotakainen describes the bill as one that “aims to reduce the number of abortions tied to genetic disorders.” He says Brownback views the bill as part of his campaign for “the culture of life,” and describes Brownback as saying that “children with special needs are viewed as being specially touched by God” in some cultures. Kennedy’s office declined to comment on the legislation, which passed a Senate committee recently. An excerpt:

“We’re just saying, instead of killing the children, let them live,” Brownback said … Currently, Brownback said, 90 percent of pregnancies are aborted when a genetic test shows that a fetus will develop into a child with Down syndrome, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis or dwarfism.

… “I’d like to see it come way down,” Brownback said. “I think these children are beautiful and sacred children, and they should be allowed the chance to live.”

… Brownback said the bill has not run into any opposition, though he said some people in the disability community were hesitant at first. He said he told them that unborn children should be protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“It does seem inconsistent that we would protect them once they’re here but destroy them in the womb just because of who they are,” Brownback said. “Because that’s why they’re being destroyed.”

… NARAL Pro-Choice America, a group that backs abortion rights, is not opposing the bill.

Susan May, president of the Down Syndrome Society of Wichita, is described as “thrilled with the bill because it would force doctors and other health care professionals to get educated about the positive aspects of Down syndrome.”

See earlier post here.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 10th, 2008 at 6:29 am and is filed under abortion, adoption, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, dwarfism/little people, genetics, intellectual/developmental disabilities, law, NOT2BEMISSED, politics, spina bifida. 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.