Persuasive Essay On Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome or Trisomy 21 is an extra copy of chromosomes 21; healthy babies have two copies, while down syndrome babies have three copies. Blood tests that pregnant women get have sparked a debate about aborting unborn babies with down syndrome because the parents “can’t handle it” or “dont know how to care for a baby with a disability.” Many women have recieved horrible news about their yet unborn child, Melanie Perkins McLaughlin had faced this issue and had to choose between a ‘heartbreaking” decision and keeping the Down Syndrome child. Melanie had had two miscarriages previous to this pregnancy. “Doctors gave Mclaughlin the option to terminate but told her she would have to decide quickly. (Szabo A.1)” Melanie wondered if she could handle the task of raising this baby with down syndrome. “Down syndrom or Trisomy 21 is common in 200,000 Americans; Trisomy 21 causes intellectual disabilities, low muscle tone and other complications(Szabo A.1).” Usually when soon to be mothers or previous mothers find out that their unborn bab has down synydrome they are shocked, saddened, or in disbelief.”Melany McLaughlin and her husband met with 5 year-old Anna Burnett, they saw how Anna was playing with their other children and thought “maybe this isnt the end of the world, that maybe it would be okay (Szabo A.1).” Some

“The test is a great test, but it needs to be understood before it can be used effectively. Said Mary Norton (Marcus A.3).”Blood tests showing the fetus has downsyndrome can lead so parents or soon to be parents to end the pregnancy due to lack of knowledge of the capabilities and responsibilities to caring for a downsyndrome child. This test is a cell- free DNA test, it prevents women from needing invasive procedures, other genetic tests have risks of miscarriage. “Data tests from 1996 to 2010 had many researchers looking at the tests in a different perspective