André Lalonde, executive vice-president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, is worried about Sarah and Trig Palin. Here's The Globe and Mail:
[Some Canadians] fear Ms. Palin's emergence as a parental role model sends a different message. As a vocal opponent of abortion, Ms. Palin's widely discussed decision to keep her baby, knowing he would be born with the condition, may inadvertently influence other women who may lack the necessary emotional and financial support to do the same, according to André Lalonde, executive vice-president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
Dr. Lalonde said that above all else, women must be free to choose, and that popular messages to the contrary could have detrimental effects on women and their families.
"The worry is that this will have an implication for abortion issues in Canada," he said.
In other words: If your unborn child is diagnosed with Down Syndrome, you should abort, lest another mother see evidence that the child is a blessing and be influenced to keep her own unborn Down Syndrome child.
Fortunately, Krista Flint, executive director of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, counters such nonsense: "We know overwhelmingly the message families get is 'Don't have this baby, it will ruin your life,' and I don't think people would look at Sarah Palin and see a ruined life. Regardless of politics, I think it's a good example."
Unfortunately, it's Lalonde rather than Flint who's more likely to be counseling women when they get back their prenatal screening for Down Syndrome.
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