Comments on: Down Syndrome Babies: An Endangered Species? http://www.cedarethics.org/2007/05/14/down-syndrome-babies-an-endangered-species/ On Bioethics and the Defense of Human Life Sun, 30 Oct 2011 06:26:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dennis Sullivan http://www.cedarethics.org/2007/05/14/down-syndrome-babies-an-endangered-species/comment-page-1/#comment-12905 Dennis Sullivan Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:14:00 +0000 http://www.cedarethics.org/2007/05/14/down-syndrome-babies-an-endangered-species/#comment-12905 My thanks to those who commented on this post. To j. francis, I would respond enthusiastically to a cure for Down syndrome. At present, genetic therapy is in its early experimental stages. True genetic cures lie far in the future. Currently, the only "treatment" for genetic diseases is to eliminate the patient.<br/><br/>To walkerma, I agree that statistics can sometimes mislead, but in a world where amniocentesis and cvs routinely lead to abortion when defects are found, I can't imagine that the incidence will decrease because genetic testing is easier. My thanks to those who commented on this post. To j. francis, I would respond enthusiastically to a cure for Down syndrome. At present, genetic therapy is in its early experimental stages. True genetic cures lie far in the future. Currently, the only “treatment” for genetic diseases is to eliminate the patient.

To walkerma, I agree that statistics can sometimes mislead, but in a world where amniocentesis and cvs routinely lead to abortion when defects are found, I can’t imagine that the incidence will decrease because genetic testing is easier.

]]> By: walkerma http://www.cedarethics.org/2007/05/14/down-syndrome-babies-an-endangered-species/comment-page-1/#comment-12904 walkerma Fri, 25 May 2007 11:34:00 +0000 http://www.cedarethics.org/2007/05/14/down-syndrome-babies-an-endangered-species/#comment-12904 I applaud the introduction of a simple blood test that will reduce the risks associated with current testing methods. I think it is a bit of a stretch to assume that this will lead to more pregnancy terminations. As j.francis suggests the test offers the potential for early intervention.<br/><br/>The use of the statistics cited in the paper to predict the outcome of the blood test is flawed since it doesn't consider the circumstances under which these women sought testing. I applaud the introduction of a simple blood test that will reduce the risks associated with current testing methods. I think it is a bit of a stretch to assume that this will lead to more pregnancy terminations. As j.francis suggests the test offers the potential for early intervention.

The use of the statistics cited in the paper to predict the outcome of the blood test is flawed since it doesn’t consider the circumstances under which these women sought testing.

]]> By: J.Francis http://www.cedarethics.org/2007/05/14/down-syndrome-babies-an-endangered-species/comment-page-1/#comment-12903 J.Francis Fri, 25 May 2007 07:07:00 +0000 http://www.cedarethics.org/2007/05/14/down-syndrome-babies-an-endangered-species/#comment-12903 Excellent post Dr Sullivan. This is certainly eugenics being practiced on an international scale! Your point is well taken regarding the sterility of a genetically perfect world. However, what if we could cure Down syndrome at the embryo stage? What ethical dilemmas would this raise? Is this a possibility technically? How would a Christian bioethics view a cure for Down syndrome? Excellent post Dr Sullivan. This is certainly eugenics being practiced on an international scale! Your point is well taken regarding the sterility of a genetically perfect world. However, what if we could cure Down syndrome at the embryo stage? What ethical dilemmas would this raise? Is this a possibility technically? How would a Christian bioethics view a cure for Down syndrome?

]]>