:: The S.I.C.L.E. Cell ::

:: Sunday, February 18, 2007 ::

Coercion:

An excerpt from the web site of a woman whose medical treatment (for maternal disease) was TAKEN AWAY FROM HER by a doctor who INSISTED she abort her son and who was irritated when she wouldn't:

"The amniocentesis confirmed the diagnosis that our baby had Trisomy 18. The doctor went over the numbers with us: 80% chance of still birth, 90% chance he would die before first birthday.

We were steered in the direction of terminating the pregnancy. We explained that this was not an option. We were told to call our OB in the morning.

We cried all night long.

The next morning, we called our OB. She told us that our little Jordan was a nonviable fetus and there was no reason to continue pregnancy especially considering the hyperemesis that Jen was experiencing.

We were outraged. Our doctor had called the pregnancy 'pointless'. She refused to see us in the office until mid January and indicated that follow up appointments were not necessary. She advised us to terminate the pregnancy.

We were devastated and felt alone. We had been abandoned by our doctor.

To add insult to injury, our OB refused to authorize Zofran [for hyperemesis gravidarum] and told Jen she was no longer eligible for disability.

We decided to go to our follow up appointment because we had some questions and thought we could still work with our doctor over the next few months.

On January 10th we had our follow up appointment with our doctor. She still refused medication and, even though Jen was still 5 pounds below her pre-pregnant weight at about 23 weeks of pregnancy, she would not allow further disability time.

She expressed her opinion that termination was the wiser choice. She refused to follow Jordan's progress or check for his health conditions because he was 'going to die anyway.'

Jen and I were despondent after this appointment."

Hello?! When parents only have a short time to be with their child, that doesn't make the moments less precious... it makes them MORE precious. This mother was denied her right to choose to carry her baby to term by a doctor who should be brought up on criminal charges.

In the very least, physicians like this should be made to feel small by patients whom they treat this way. For example, an appropriate response might go something like this:

"How dare you suggest that I kill my disabled child! What kind of doctor ARE you anyway? I can't believe that you would discriminate against a disabled child and that your discrimination would be so extreme that you would suggest execution! My God in heaven, the horror of your character is incomprehensible. Shame on you!" At which point the patient would run screaming from the building.

Thankfully, this mom sought another physician, and Jordan was born to loving parents who cuddled him and built fond memories of him for 32 precious hours.

Mom and Dad would like to build a memorial garden at their church. More than honoring little Jordan's memory, they want the garden to be "a place of peace to find comfort in the Lord." If you would like to contribute to Jordan's memorial, please send your donation to:

Risen King Community Church
Jordan's Fund
900 Twin View Blvd.
Redding, CA 96001

:: ashli 9:22 PM # ::
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