February 23, 2012
Rick Santorum: Stop Using Pregnant Women as a Stepping Stone to the White House
A lie unchallenged becomes the truth. While I admire GOP candidate Rick Santorum’s decision to raise a special needs child, I certainly wish he would keep his political agendas out of my exam room. Yes, it takes love and courage to raise a child with Trisomy 18, a genetic disorder that’s associated with severe physical and mental challenges. However, this does not make Santorum an expert on prenatal tests and to say anything to the contrary, is both reckless and immoral.
Prenatal tests, especially those that tests for chromosomal abnormalities, are optional. A woman can decline the tests if she chooses to do so and I’ve had patients who have exercised that perogative in the past. But first, let me tell you why these genetic tests are so important. If a woman discovers that she has a baby with Trisomy 21, commonly known as Down’s syndrome, both she and her pediatrician will have time to prepare for possible complications. Many genetic disorders are associated with heart conditions and require immediate surgery after birth. There are instances where the baby is born with a pediatric cardiologist in the delivery room who then whisks the baby away to have a life-saving cardiac procedure. This cannot happen if you don’t have the prenatal test.
In my 25-year career as a physician, I’ve only had 2 confirmed cases of Trisomy 21 and both mothers decided to keep their pregnancies. However, please be aware that there are some genetic disorders that are incompatible with life and the baby expires shortly birth. Most mothers do not want to experience that type of emotional trauma.
Mr. Santorum, please stop using Women’s Health as a stepping stone to gain entrance into the White House. If you can’t campaign for President based on truth and merit, then perhaps you’re not cut out for the job.
LIsa Plymate said,
February 23, 2012 at 1:00 am
My impression of Mr. Santorum is that he wants to go back to keeping all women pregnant, home and in the kitchen. In Rick’s World, there is no contraception. In Rick’s World, children are all home-schooled.
You give the example of his opposition to ante-natal testing. He does not know the ramifications of this testing; he only sees that it might mean aborting a fetus. He says he for severely limiting government. How can stepping between doctor and patient in such critical, sensitive choices as these be considered lessening the role of government? I consider this a huge expansion of federal powers, in a place they absolutely do not belong!
drlindagalloway said,
February 23, 2012 at 1:18 am
Totally agree with you, Lisa. First contraception, now prenatal testing. Obviously, this man does not have his own platform. Once again, women are being exploited in the name of politics and political agendas.
Adele said,
March 22, 2012 at 10:31 pm
You write, “In my 25-year career as a physician, I’ve only had 2 confirmed cases of Trisomy 21 and both mothers decided to keep their pregnancies. However, please be aware that there are some genetic disorders that are incompatible with life and the baby expires shortly birth. Most mothers do not want to experience that type of emotional trauma.”
So laying down on a table and having a doctor vacuum a baby out of your vagina is not emotional trauma?? No thanks. I’ll have my baby and love him/her until she dies. And if anyone out there is considering aborting such a child, please let me adopt your baby girl or boy.