From a netfriend:

G'day All

The front page of this mornings SMH has an article describing new technology which can detect Down Syndrome at 8 to 12 weeks with no danger to mother or child. Perhaps I should restate that. There are enormous dangers.

For once I think the SMH has it right to put this on the front page.

Let me make a few predictions. Firstly, even if this doesn't work as hoped, within a few years something like it will.

Secondly, in Australia at least its uptake will be near-universal. Down Syndrome babies will become far rarer, and although it's likely that nobody will have the guts to find out, it will be because almost all Down Syndrome foetuses will be aborted. This will be the last nail in the coffin of the current "Right-to-Life" issue locally.

Thirdly, there will subsequently be a second and far nastier "Right-to-Life" issue, as community leaders and activists campaign against those mothers who elect not to have the test, or the abortion. We've already seen a court case brought by a disabled person who claimed they should not have been born, and sued for damages because they had been.

The current campaign is over whether mothers are to have the option of an abortion, or are instead forced to carry their child to term. But the new campaign will be over whether mothers will have the option of bearing a possibly disabled child, or will instead be forced to have an abortion.

I predict this battle will commence before too long. Which way it will go I have no idea. I'm not even sure I know which side some of the major players will take. But nasty is far too mild a term. You ain't seen nothin' yet.

Food for thought?

YiCaa