Prenatal Genetic Screening/TESTING

PERSONAL STORY: "How sad" that such tests are routinely offered and normalized

In July 2008, we received this email from an Ontario woman about how she was repeatedly offered genetic testing. She has given us permission to post her story here.

Dear Canadian Physicians for Life,

I have been greatly encouraged by your webpage and have recently mailed you a donation.  I was delighted to see that there are still pro-life physicians! 

I just had my first child at the age of 33.  I was in fertility treatments for a year and the last cycle of medicine I took worked and my husband and I were thrilled. The first thing I was given at the fertility clinic (when I was there for my first appointment after learning I was pregnant) was a brochure about genetic testing so I could consider abortion.  Then I went to my family doctor as I was on a waiting list for a midwife and the first thing I was offered there was genetic testing.  I asked the medical reason for this as I understood there was no treatment available to my baby in the event of a genetic abnormality.  There was of course no medical reason, just the option of abortion.  I repeatedly declined genetic tests.

At 7.5 months I was sent to an ob/gyn for a consult as I had gestational diabetes and my midwife was required to send me. The reason I wanted midwife care was to avoid contact with abortionists. I went to the appointment and a resident came in.  He had read my chart including the fact I had been in fertility treatments for a year and had repeatedly declined genetic tests and was there for a consult on gestational diabetes yet the first thing he said was “Would you like genetic tests?”  I said no, I didn't want any tests that were not medically necessary for the health of me or my baby and his response was "Well you can still terminate!"  I found this rude and offensive to say the least. 

Later the doctor came in and also asked that first, even though both of them then said they had read my chart and noticed I'd been in fertility treatments for some time and was there for a diabetes consult. Happily I was healthy enough that I didn't have to be transferred to their "care."  My midwife explained that due to large settlements in the US the government here was encouraging all doctors to offer this testing to preclude legal responsibility in the event of the birth of disabled child. 

How sad that the government and courts feel it is better to systematically recommend and normalize such tests and the abortion of the possibly disabled rather than simply dismiss ridiculous lawsuits. 

I love and treasure my daughter and it sickens me to think my society would have supported me in killing her for being disabled, for being female or for any or no reason at all.  I cannot understand why public policy is to pay for abortion on demand and yet infertile couples are often unable to afford fertility treatments and the associated drug costs.  I would have loved to have a child earlier but for the first 3.5 years of our marriage my husband and I couldn't afford fertility treatments and we were not even wanting the $10,000 in-vitro procedures. I just needed help to ovulate as I have an ovarian problem that has no known cause or cure. Many couples I know have had to take breaks in their fertility treatments due to cost and yet abortion is completely accessible and actively promoted. 

Sincerely,

(Name withheld for privacy reasons)