A world without Down's syndrome?

[Hulababy]

Anyone else watching?

Interesting so far

[IfartInYourGeneralDirection]

I think her life is very different to most. she is very rich, has a nanny and lots of help.
She makes me very uncomfortable.
I'm not sure she should be judging people who have none of that

[dillite]

I am watching. I wonder whether they will be showing anyone who has dementia at the age of 25 or has severe heart problems/ learning difficulties. So far it seems to be quite "It's so wonderful and magical!" in its theme.

[cosmicglittergirl]

I agree with ifart, it doesn't sit well with me: I do actually like her, but people have a choice and that's their business.

[dillite]

I thought that the screening was for other chromosomal abnormalities, not just Downs Syndrome? Why are they only focusing on Downs?

[Itscurtainsforyou]

I'm watching. I like her.
But I don't agree the new test will lead to more terminations. I think it will reduce the number of babies who die as a result of the intrusive tests (amnio etc), it will give the information without the risk of miscarriage.

[MaxineRockatansky]

I'm glad she has a happy son and is happy with the choice she made re: her pregnancy.

But it's precisely none of her business what anyone else does with their bodies.

And she is undoubtedly extremely privileged and is coming across as quite out of touch with normality.

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

Agree with ifart and dillite.

She is taking this far too personally.

[JayZed]

She's obviously very biased and passionate about the issue....would of liked a bit more a debate with the doctor she interviewed.

[ReadTheWholeFred]

Surely the answer is to give parents a balanced view of Downs when they get a positive screening. Give women a proper informed choice. Don't immediately suggest an abortion but show how kids with Down Syndrome have full lives.

The answer is not take away choice and info.

I had NIPTY screening after a 1:8 chance of Downs of Edwards. I needed to know whether it was Edwards as I knew I would terminate if it was. I wasn't sure how I'd proceed if it was Down Syndrome. Should the test have been denied me in case I found out it was Downs and still chose to terminate?

[BigcatLittlecat]

All very close to home! But i agree with previous posters that she is a little out of reality.

[cestlavielife]

Down syndrome is one of the more common chromosome disorders and is presented as the only one to worry about .

Yet it can be one of the milder conditions to have.
You won't know if you have child with ds how they will turn out but then you don't know for any child.

[Teahornet]

I missed the beginning, but is she actually arguing that only the absence of an accurate test, or the fear of miscarriage in amniocentesis, has kept babies with Down's being born? Therefore women should be denied access to accurate, safe testing?

I mean, I completely understand her deep desire to defend her son, to not have to justify his existence, her sense that Downs is being regarded as a 'disease', to worry about him living in a world where people like him have stopped being born, to worry about medics pressuring women to terminate, but it seems to come back to a desire to stop people having access to information.

[cestlavielife]

I agree test should be available as will prevent some miscarriages
.but there should be more balanced view of ds .

[ReadTheWholeFred]

She is also avoiding referring to the fact she is an evangelical Christian. Her views aren't only driven by her son but by her strong religious conviction.

That doesn't make her opinion less valid but is relevant context that she is not providing.

[MaxineRockatansky]

Eurgh she's really annoying me now.

Very condescending and hammy.

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

I feel for her, she is coming from an emotional standpoint, but she is being very condescending in trying to justify her own life choices.

Trying to stop people making informed decisions because of your own beliefs and narrow experience is shocking.

[JayZed]

Could do without the breathy sobbing woman tbh.. didn't really add anything

[IfartInYourGeneralDirection]

She's speaking to women exactly like her.

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

That's very interesting Read. So she's coming from an anti-abortion stance.

[WipsGlitter]

I don't think she's out of touch with reality. Lots of "normal" people have children with Down's syndrome and share her views.

[Oblomov16]

I'm going to watch it. My friend was involved with the legal advice.

[RandomMess]

It's the wider implications - what else should we start screening for so termination is an option?

Not an easy subject any way you look at it.

[yeOldeTrout]

What Dillite wrote. :(
That's the reality in my extended family.

[fittedcupboard]

I didn't see the programme, but I'm a GP and I look after a 50 year old man with DS. It's all very different when they are no longer little and cute but rather tall, overweight and with difficult behaviour and multiple physical problems and concerns about early dementia. DS is not a benign condition.