Predicted Number of Babies with Down Syndrome Plummets
By Josh Wiley
Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, occurs when a person is born with 47 chromosomes, instead of the usual 46, with the extra chromosome present in the 21st pair. Usually this extra chromosome happens when the egg or sperm cell divides incorrectly. The condition affects all people groups equally. For the most part, children with Down syndrome have intellectual disabilities in the mild to moderate range, though with proper intervention and education these affects are not severe. Children with Down syndrome normally have health problems including heart defects, vision problems and hearing loss, though these too can be corrected. However, Down syndrome itself has no cure. Or does it? Though 80% of babies born with Down syndrome are born to women under age 35, the chances of having a baby with it raise dramatically as the mother reaches the age 35.
Age 25 1 in 1,250
Age 30 1 in 1,000
Age 35 1 in 400
Age 40 1 in 100
Age 45 1 in 301
The age of the mother is a key concept because from 1980 to 2003 the number of mothers having babies at ages 40 through 44 have increased from 23,090 to 101,005 and the number of mothers having babies at age 45 and above increased from 1,200 to 5,845.2 When added to the babies born of mother at younger ages, the number of babies born with Down syndrome should have increased by about 55%, but it increased only 24%.3 Seeing that there is no cure for the condition, what happened to the babies?
They were murdered.
Statistics are difficult to find, but studies suggest that in the United States abortion rates for babies with Down syndrome vary from 84% to 91%4. They were deemed unfit to live. These were babies that were wanted until their condition was discovered. The meaning behind this cannot be underestimated. Most babies are murdered by abortion because they came at an inconvenient time, but babies with Down syndrome are killed because the parents or doctors see them as less worthy than a “normal” baby.
While the murder of these babies is evil, there is another aspect to this tragedy that goes unnoticed, the stance of some of the Down syndrome support groups hold on abortion. The March of Dimes, which unquestionably does tremendous good for people, has taken a seemingly contradictory position on abortion. Under their family planning heading, they state “the March of Dimes does not consider abortion as an element of family planning and does not fund any abortion counseling or services”.5 However, under their abortion heading, they state “the March of Dimes longstanding position of neutrality on the issue of abortion is reflected throughout the organization's many programs as well in its advocacy work. We are pleased that that many people with differing views on abortion can come together to support the March of Dimes”.6 These two statements are contradictory. Either it is acceptable to murder babies because they have Down syndrome or it is not. Neutrality is approval. Perhaps they are not so neutral. Under the stem cell research heading, they state “the March of Dimes believes that stem cell research, including human embryonic stem cells holds promise”.7 The National Down Syndrome Congress and the National Down Syndrome Society have similar stances on both issues.8
Do people with Down syndrome continue to be less worthy? Are their lives still forfeit when society demands it? Is humanity a trait we can give or take away? While the answer may be obvious to many of us, many others clearly do not see it as such. How do we, as pro-lifers, defend our world view to those that do not agree with us? Asking a variation of the first question in this paragraph is a good start; “Is it acceptable to abort a child because they have a genetic abnormality?” If they answer affirmatively then get them to absolutely clarify their position; “So you are saying that it is acceptable to abort a child only because they have a genetic abnormality, even if a child was planned?” At that point they will see the dilemma they are in and you can leave the issue or continue to make them explore their position; “So people with genetic abnormalities are not as worthy as normal people? Why?”
The stance of the Down syndrome organizations (March of Dimes, National Down Syndrome Congress and the National Down Syndrome Society) is more difficult. When calling the organizations to understand their positions on abortion, I talked to a very kind woman. She had a daughter with Down syndrome and thus knew what it was like to parent one. I was merely asking for information but we began to discuss the large percentage of babies with Down syndrome that were being aborted. She read the official statement her organization had on abortion [e.g. “neutral”], but said she did not want to discuss it further. I did not push the issue, we both knew such a position is untenable. I admit I was at a loss to know what to do. Here she was working for a wonderful organization that helps people in a difficult situation. The material on their website clearly showed the love they have for people with Down syndrome and that people with Down syndrome were just as fully human as anyone else. In the end I think it is fear that hold these people back from taking the stance they know is right. They are aware that if they call abortion of babies because they have Down syndrome evil, they will have taken a position on abortion and it could very well cost them money and volunteers. In this respect they are like us. Do we take a strong stance on life, knowing that it may cost us? We are faced with an even more difficult question, can we support these organizations?
PS - One aspect I find troubling about all of the Down syndrome organizations was their stance on embryonic stem cell research. In this they do not seem to see any contradiction. Is it because a stem cell does not look like a baby?
Sources
8 – I could not find the stance of the National Down Syndrome Congress and the National Down Syndrome Society on abortion and stem cell research on their websites, so I contacted them by phone.
