Writing in the National Review, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) says a bill he successfully co-sponsored with Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) will help deflect a “eugenics mentality” that threatens to eliminate a whole class of people — children with Down syndrome –  before they can be born. An excerpt:

The Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act got final approval from Congress last week. The measure will provide support and balanced information to families upon diagnosis, and will establish a national registry of families wishing to adopt children with disabilities.

The irony is that if children with Down Syndrome make it out of the womb, their prospects in life are brighter than ever. Children and adults with Down Syndrome are often the centerpieces of their families. They have amazing gifts and are full of affection. Many adults with Down Syndrome have jobs, live independently, and make valuable contributions to the communities in which they live.

We now understand that with early intervention and access to proper therapies, individuals with Down Syndrome can achieve a level of health and intellectual development not dreamed of even a decade ago. And yet, their prospects of being born are dimmer than ever, largely because of misconceptions that the medical community itself is actively fostering.

… Hopefully, our bill is the start of something new: real help for families, deepened respect for the value of every life — especially those with disabilities — and one step closer to the kind of America we all know is possible.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 at 9:43 pm and is filed under Down syndrome, abortion, adoption, families, prenatal diagnosis, selective termination. 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.  Email This Post