Jodi Picoult’s new novel portrays a family struggling to cope with their daughter’s rare bone disease. The couple consider bringing a wrongful birth lawsuit, and arguing in court that they wish their much-loved daughter had never been born.

From Perri Klass’ review in the Washington Post:

“When I was doing my residency in pediatrics… I was awed by the parents of children with chronic diseases… Why were there not novels and movies and ballads to celebrate their love and their determination and their very particular side of the story? Well, here’s such a novel. It’s well written, it’s conscientiously researched and, most important, it presents a character who is a child instead of a disability personified.”

From an online chat with Picoult on the Washington Post website:

I started this topic with a story I read about a woman who had sued for wrongful birth after her child was born with severe mental and physical impairment. I viscerally thought to myself, “Eww, who would stand up in court and say ‘I wish my child hadn’t been born!’”??? But then I wondered why I had reacted so quickly, and I did some research.

Turns out not a single person I met who has sued for wrongful birth wanted to terminate the pregnancy — they LOVE their kids, but they are financially strapped by their disabilities and we all know insurance doesn’t do much to help out families in that situation.

A lawsuit — and a lie on the witness stand — seems like a small price to pay to make sure your child is taken care of during his/her life, and after you’re gone (a very real fear for these parents).

Earlier post here.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 3:55 pm and is filed under abortion, books, genetics, law. 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.