Comments on: Shares of Sequenom surge amid news of early blood test for DS http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/06/04/shares-of-sequenom-surge-amid-news-of-early-blood-test-for-ds/ Disability News | PatriciaEBauer.com Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:01:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Sandra McElwee http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/06/04/shares-of-sequenom-surge-amid-news-of-early-blood-test-for-ds/#comment-990 Sandra McElwee Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:13:47 +0000 http://www.patriciaebauer.com/?p=2254#comment-990 I see the headlines about 60 years from now: "The Last Known Person with Down Syndrome Died Today." The doctors are not equipped to deliver the diagnosis. Recently one of the other screening tests revealed a baby girl with Down syndrome at 16 weeks gestation. When a friend introduced me to her (the mother) I told her that she had 6 weeks to do her research, learn as much as she could about Down syndrome and to take her time. Her trusted doctor told her, "Don't take more than 2 weeks to make a decision because the abortion will be easier on your body and you will choose abortion. Over 90% of the mothers who have the same outcome don't deliver their babies." And she choose to abort her baby. The information has to get to the parents. Now! The socially responsible thing for Sequenom to do would be to disseminate the prenatal packets of the NDSS/NDSC and local organizations. Sandra McElwee I see the headlines about 60 years from now: “The Last Known Person with Down Syndrome Died Today.”

The doctors are not equipped to deliver the diagnosis. Recently one of the other screening tests revealed a baby girl with Down syndrome at 16 weeks gestation. When a friend introduced me to her (the mother) I told her that she had 6 weeks to do her research, learn as much as she could about Down syndrome and to take her time.

Her trusted doctor told her, “Don’t take more than 2 weeks to make a decision because the abortion will be easier on your body and you will choose abortion. Over 90% of the mothers who have the same outcome don’t deliver their babies.” And she choose to abort her baby.

The information has to get to the parents. Now!

The socially responsible thing for Sequenom to do would be to disseminate the prenatal packets of the NDSS/NDSC and local organizations.

Sandra McElwee

]]> By: Nick McGivney http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/06/04/shares-of-sequenom-surge-amid-news-of-early-blood-test-for-ds/#comment-980 Nick McGivney Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:24:50 +0000 http://www.patriciaebauer.com/?p=2254#comment-980 Let us not forget the important thing. Sequenom rose $1.67. Imperfection, and I use the term with leaden sarcasm, is obviously a big motivator for business. But we must remember the important thing. Sequenom rose $1.67. I share your revulsion, Nancy, and I see a hideous vista for a higher percentage of 'successful' outcomes. But what about the important thing? Sequenom rose $1.67. Soon the Brave New World be complete. Sequenom rose $1.67. A small and hurting part of me sees an afterlife where the unthinking developers of this 'miraculous' test will be judged by the wonderful, wonderful people who were never given a chance to hug their executioners. Forgive my bitterness tonight. Let us not forget the important thing. Sequenom rose $1.67. Imperfection, and I use the term with leaden sarcasm, is obviously a big motivator for business. But we must remember the important thing. Sequenom rose $1.67.

I share your revulsion, Nancy, and I see a hideous vista for a higher percentage of ’successful’ outcomes. But what about the important thing? Sequenom rose $1.67. Soon the Brave New World be complete. Sequenom rose $1.67.

A small and hurting part of me sees an afterlife where the unthinking developers of this ‘miraculous’ test will be judged by the wonderful, wonderful people who were never given a chance to hug their executioners. Forgive my bitterness tonight.

]]> By: Nancy Iannone http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/06/04/shares-of-sequenom-surge-amid-news-of-early-blood-test-for-ds/#comment-977 Nancy Iannone Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:56:02 +0000 http://www.patriciaebauer.com/?p=2254#comment-977 I feel a little sick to my stomach. Of course it's not the testing itself -- I had a very valuable prenatal diagnosis. It's the fallout, of course. Especially knowing first-hand the way in which a diagnosis is delivered, I believe a non-invasive definitive blood test will result in greater numbers diagnosed prenatally, increasing the number of those terminated. And having it earlier I believe will increase the rate (currently 90%) of terminations, meaning more numbers as well. SIGH. And then there's the profit to be made -- it's kind of disturbing to see a capitalistic feeding frenzy thinking of the context above. It just breaks my heart. I feel a little sick to my stomach. Of course it’s not the testing itself — I had a very valuable prenatal diagnosis. It’s the fallout, of course. Especially knowing first-hand the way in which a diagnosis is delivered, I believe a non-invasive definitive blood test will result in greater numbers diagnosed prenatally, increasing the number of those terminated. And having it earlier I believe will increase the rate (currently 90%) of terminations, meaning more numbers as well. SIGH.

And then there’s the profit to be made — it’s kind of disturbing to see a capitalistic feeding frenzy thinking of the context above. It just breaks my heart.

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