Rare prenatal testing case raises ethical questions
by Aimee Green, The Oregonian
Saturday June 13, 2009, 9:45 PM
In the months before their daughter was born in 2007, Deborah and Ariel Levy worried the baby might have Down syndrome.
They say a doctor at the Legacy Center for Maternal-Fetal Medicine assured them that a sample of tissue taken from the placenta early in the pregnancy ruled out the developmental disability, despite the results of later testing that showed the fetus might have it.
But within days of the birth of their daughter, the Southwest Portland couple learned the baby did have Down syndrome. Had they known, they say, they would have terminated the pregnancy. Now they're suing in Multnomah County Circuit Court, seeking more than $14 million to cover the costs of raising her and providing education, medical care, and speech and physical therapy for their daughter, who turned 2 this month. The suit also seeks money to cover her life-long living expenses.
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I will be very interested in your thoughts on this case folks. I for one think these people and their attorney are a joke.
Peace Dude.
4 comments:
for $14million, I'll take the baby off their hands and raise her
I think "wrongful life" lawsuits should be banned. Ick.
And if they were really so horrified by this child, they should have put her up for adoption.
I think the fact that they are claiming it will cost $14 million to raise a child with Down syndrome is completely outrageous. That just perpetuates the myth that having a child with a disability will bankrupt you.
(although the way the government is dismantling safety nets for our most vulnerable citizens, it may be all up to the parents to provide lifelong care for your kids)
As a mother of a boy with Down syndrome the same age as their daughter I am appalled at their stance. I look at my son as a total blessing. Yes caring for them can be costly at times but they are going about it the complete wrong way. I had screening done when I was pregnant and everything came back normal as well; however, suing the medical system wasn’t even a consideration because I had done research after his birth and knew the tests aren’t going to be 100% accurate. I am honored to have my son and consider myself lucky.
Even though I think it will be impossible, but I hope their daughter will never read about this case because I can’t even imagine the pain it would cause her. To think that the father is also suing for the way the child has affected his relationship with his wife! It is very sad that people can be so self-centered.
I always wonder how parents who bring such suits - sometimes in situations with children who do not have any disability - later explain their actions to their children.
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