In the UK, two couples, whose families have a history of breast cancer, will be the first to be assured that the children they have will never suffer from the ravages of that disease. This is because, after creating embryos through IVF, they will have each embryo tested for a defective BRCA1 gene, which raises the risk of cancer in … Read More
Elizabeth Edwards
Probably because her breast cancer has returned, Elizabeth Edwards is campaigning for the expansion of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research while also campaigning for her husband, Democrat presidential candidate John Edwards. It is generally expected that if you, or someone you love, has a disease or disability they must always be in favor of this research, and the … Read More
Life is Worth LIVING!!
The National Catholic Register has an article about the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada’s recommendation that all pregnant women be tested for “chromosomal abnormality.” This is their equivalence to the American OBGYN’s similar suggestion, only the Americans specifically mentioned “Down Syndrome” as the target. The article’s line that pro-life groups say, “it is hostile to people with Down … Read More
Lives Not Worth Living, Take II
It seems that both American and Canadian OB-GYN doctors have agreed that all pregnant women not just those over 35, should screen for Down Syndrome. On the outside this seems reasonable, I mean many women already find out whether their child is male or female prior to birth, so what’s wrong with testing to see if that child will also … Read More
Seven Year Itch
Today marks the 7th year of my spinal cord injury and thus my 7th year in a wheelchair. Never, before last year, have I actually recognized this occasion or made a big deal about it. But I now see it as an opportunity to share what I have come to realize through my disability. In my original reflections I noed … Read More
Life is Worth Loving
In this article for the UK Times, sports writer Simon Barnes reflects on his experience of living with and loving his son, Eddie, who has Down’s syndrome. It is a beautiful testimony and relavent given the current situation in the UK with doctors seeking permission to kill disabled infants. As I said in a previous post, disabled children are human … Read More
Lives Not Worth Living
I have seen two articles in recent weeks about doctors in Europe who want the door opened to “baby euthenasia” for severely handicapped babies. Apparently the problem is that scientific advancements have been made that are actually prolonging the lives of children once considered “terminal.” The Church of England has even given its blessing to this barbaric act. This is … Read More