wow...this headline and comments by the doctor are just unbelievable!

[Guest guest]

Canadian

doctor warns Palin's decision to have Down baby could reduce abortions

and Todd

Palin's decision to complete her recent pregnancy, despite advance

notice that their baby Trig had Down syndrome, is hailed by

many in the pro-life movement as walking the walk as well as talking the talk.

But a senior Canadian doctor is now expressing concerns that such a

prominent public role model as the governor of Alaska and potential vice

president of the United States completing a Down

syndrome pregnancy may prompt other women to make the same decision against

abortion because of that genetic abnormality. And thereby reduce the number of

abortions.

Published reports in Canada say about 9 out of 10 women given a diagnosis of

Down syndrome choose to terminate the pregnancy through abortion.

Dr. Andre Lalonde, executive vice president of the Society of

Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Ottawa, worries that Palin's now

renowned decision may cause abortions in Canada to decline as other women there

and elsewhere opt to follow suit.

He says not every woman is prepared to deal with the consequences of Down

babies, who have developmental delays, some physical difficulties and often a shortened

lifespan.

Wider use of blood screening and amniocentesis during pregnancies can now

accurately predict the presence of Down syndrome.

Lalonde says his primary concern is that women have the....

....choice of abortion and that greater public

awareness of women making choices like Palin to complete a pregnancy and give

birth to their genetically-abnormal baby could be detrimental and confusing to

the women and their families.

" The worry is that this will have an implication for abortion issues in

Canada, " Lalonde tells the Globe and Mail.

In her widely-viewed acceptance speech to the Republican National

Convention and a TV audience of some 37 million last week, Palin did not

refer to her baby's birth as a decision or choice. " In April, " she

said, " my husband Todd and I welcomed our littlest one into the world, a

perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig.

" From the inside, no family ever seems typical. That's how it is with

us. Our family has the same ups and downs as any other, the same challenges and

the same joys.

" Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge. And children with

special needs inspire a special love.

" To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I

have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place

for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will

have a friend and advocate in the White House. "

Others in Canada, which has just begun its own national parliamentary

election campaign, see the Palins as positive parental role models who could

help reduce the tide of Down syndrome abortions.

Krista Flint is executive director of the Canadian

Down Syndrome Society, which says its goal is to foster " a climate of

understanding and mutual respect for the dignity, worth and equal rights for

ALL people. "

The society now displays a photograph of the happy Palins with their baby on

its homepage and offers to provide " positive and factual information "

for an open discussion of Down syndrome.

However, Flint says doctors usually give couples very dark messages about

life with a Down syndrome child.

" We know overwhelmingly the message families get is 'Don't have this

baby, it will ruin your life,' " Flint says. " And I don't think people

would look at Palin and see a ruined life. Regardless of politics, I

think it's a good example. "

Lalonde says giving women detailed information on the consequences of their

decision is not actually encouraging them to seek abortions.

-- Malcolm