Comments for Welcome to Illinois

Comment on Why has the prevalence of Down’s syndrome births increased in the US, but not the UK? by Penny Green

Penny Green — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:14:34 +0000

Isn’t it sad that in two countries with considerable knowledge, understanding and support for Down Syndrome, it is still seen so negatively that over 90% of diagnosed pregnancies end in termination.

I believe in the UK that termination rate for Hyperplastic Left Heart, a serious congenital heart condition is much less, between 40-50%. Yet with undertanding of that condition and Down Syndrome and the typical heart defects associated with that, I know which I would prefer to deal with.

So how is it that parents make such different choices? I can only sumise that it may be to do with the information they are given at diagnosis.

Comment on Why has the prevalence of Down’s syndrome births increased in the US, but not the UK? by Matt at WelcometoIllinois

Matt at WelcometoIllinois — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:40:45 +0000

Hi Frank,

Thanks for visiting and taking the time to leave a comment. WTI is honoured. I did see your post but didn’t have time to reconcile the stats. I guess it supports the suggestion that there were dramatic improvements in the US between 1979 and the early 1990s – but also that there was a considerable decline in the UK between 1990 and 1995.

Comment on Why has the prevalence of Down’s syndrome births increased in the US, but not the UK? by Frank Buckley

Frank Buckley — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:30:31 +0000

Though since the early 1990s the trends are strikingly similar: http://blogs.downsed.org/frank/2009/11/down-syndrome-birth-rate-also-rising-in-the-us.html

Comment on The latest Down’s syndrome statistics from England and Wales by Why has the prevalence of Down’s syndrome births increased in the US, but not the UK? « Welcome to Illinois

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:45:19 +0000

[...] is an enormous increase. Consider that, according to UK statistics, the number of children born with Down’s syndrome in the England and Wales decreased 1% [...]

Comment on A not so simple problem by Recent news and views « Welcome to Illinois

Recent news and views « Welcome to Illinois — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:49:18 +0000

[...] An interesting perspective, and one that I have some sympathy for. [...]

Comment on Reconsidering “the r word” by In defence of Simple Jack « Welcome to Illinois

In defence of Simple Jack « Welcome to Illinois — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:25:46 +0000

[...] » Amid the furore against Tropic Thunder and the film-within-a-film Simple Jack last year I maintained that “the protesters against Tropic Thunder appear to be either misunderstanding or willfully [...]

Comment on The latest Down’s syndrome statistics from England and Wales by NHS figures on Down’s-related terminations are “wholly inaccurate” « Welcome to Illinois

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:58:10 +0000

[...] the NHS’s figures only relate to abortion forms. The issues is significant since, as I noted earlier this year, the NDSCR’s funding is due to expire in March next [...]

Comment on JFK and the National Plan to Combat Mental Retardation by starrlife

starrlife — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:49:14 +0000

Come by and see my last post- about Tim Shriver and the Special Olympics!

Comment on UK press wakes up to Down’s syndrome statistics by Human beings not capable of deciding whether to continue with the pregnancy of their unborn child based on statistics and percentages « Welcome to Illinois

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:42:20 +0000

[...] The UK’s coverage of Down’s syndrome screening and statistics continues following the publication of a report in the [...]

Comment on UK press wakes up to Down’s syndrome statistics by The latest Down’s syndrome statistics from England and Wales « Welcome to Illinois

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:15:52 +0000

[...] – The mainstream press picked up on these statistics six months later – [...]