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AIBU?

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To think a test for downs that is nearly 100% accurate will not result in more terminations

301 replies

PlayOnWurtz · 05/10/2016 18:53

I'm getting increasingly annoyed with Sally Philips at the moment and her insistence testing for downs syndrome is a negative thing and that living with someone with downs syndrome is a wholly positive experience.

Whatever happened to choice? Who is she to lay the guilt trip on people? Why is it seen as shameful to say "I would not be able to raise a person with significant health and learning disabilities" and seen as a negative decision made on a whim rather than a decision made with consideration and thought and heartache?

OP posts:
Oblomov16 · 10/10/2016 18:54

As I said on the other thread:

I'm not sure SP did herself much favour by attacking the NIPT. That test only gives women information, and thus choice. I think SP is fighting a losing battle on that one, because many/most people agree with information and choice.

She might be better to focus on:
How the test information and diagnosis are presents to the mum - that is an area that could do with more work.
Preconceptions and misinformation about how awful life is going to be like. That needs work. Because not all Ds child are as severe as others, and as we all know, for many, life is fabulous.

A much more tricky issue, is how to persuade mothers to take the risk. Some children with DS and also ASD are less severe than others, because it is a spectrum and you don't know how severe it's going to be until you get there, so that the risk. How can SP convince mums to take the risk? Now THATS hard.

Any SN child, the life it brings, the constant fighting, for some of us - that takes strength, - do we all have the strength would we have chosen it, if we'd have the choice ? That s tricky too.

and it is the Unknown, of how severe it might be, that scares many.

And the fear of how that child will cope when mum passes away, with all the current benefits being withdrawn, that scares others.

That is a very deep and tricky topic for SP to cover, and I'm not sure she's gone about it in quite the right way.

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