When 90% of children diagnosed with Down syndrome are never allowed to be born, the lesson is not that society should feel less shame. The lesson is that society has become comfortable with something that should trouble its conscience. Many things become common. Commonality is not the same as morality. A civilization is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members, not by how quietly it disposes of them.
The NHS risks losing more consultants to countries offering better pay, and greater recognition of our professional value.
@ShanuDatta4 and @helennry7 have spoken to the BMJ about why consultants in England should vote YES to strike action https://t.co/mx5JitW1re
@TheOneTrueGKS@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ I didn't say it appeared cruel to me.
I saw her tears. They are in despair. I don't know their financial situation but the USA is messed up in terms of healthcare and things like this and cancer can bankrupt people, which is awful.
@TheOneTrueGKS@IHJWAMH@JonnyRoot_ Infanticide used to be normal in society too. Like child labour, kids sweeping chimneys, working weekends. Thankfully society changed it's norms and made that illegal. It's all part of the process of maturing society.
If they can't look after the child properly, fair enough.
@TheOneTrueGKS@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ I agree if someone can't look after a child properly they should allow someone else to. Plenty of parents out there that want to give a home to a kid, even with health conditions.
@TheOneTrueGKS@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ What are your thoughts on that situation?
Give the baby up for adoption? If they couldn't handle a relatively well Down Syndrome child, then they definitely couldn't handle that severely disabled one surely?
@TheOneTrueGKS@tunedhuman@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ What's hit the target here when my point is about the quality of life of down syndrome patients?
Not about consent...
The information presented by that couple about Down Syndrome was very inaccurate and doesn't tally with established evidence.
They made it public...
@TheOneTrueGKS@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ That is literally my point, you're not listening.
Science has moved on.
The information that couple presented as their reasoning was scientifically inaccurate and not in keeping with publicly available info and established medical knowledge.
@TheOneTrueGKS@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ If they genuinely can't afford the healthcare, then it's much more understandable. That's suffering for all involved. Are that couple poor?
@TheOneTrueGKS@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ No, it's their choice, but it has to be an informed choice.
The information they presented publicly doesn't tally with the publicly available evidence
@TheOneTrueGKS@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ To make the informed choice, you need to be informed.
If someone lies and says all Down Syndrome kids are wheelchair bound and will die in their teens, that's blatantly false, isn't it?
@TheOneTrueGKS@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ Who said there was an obligation?
My entire argument from the beginning has been that Down Syndrome isn't that bad and isn't an instant death sentence in the teens.
At some point scientific and medical reality has to be taken into account when making informed decisions.
@TheOneTrueGKS@tunedhuman@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ When did I ever deny the choice?
Any person can deny life saving treatment if they show they are of sound mind. Even children with Gillick/Fraser competence can refuse treatment.
These are the basics of medical consent. Autonomy.
@TheOneTrueGKS@tunedhuman@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ It's established medical science and knowledge, not "whatever".
Women need to be able to make informed choices with the correct information.
The information that couple posted doesn't tally with established, peer reviewed, internationally accepted scientific evidence.
@tunedhuman@TheOneTrueGKS@NuNu7194@JonnyRoot_ My argument isn't against the choice.
It's the information surrounding the choice.
Down Syndrome kids go on to live full and fulfilling lives, as long as you have the means to access healthcare. It's not a death sentence in your teens. Same with leukaemia, good treatments now