Women who are expecting a baby with Down syndrome often receive poor, misleading and discouraging counsel from their doctors, CNSNews.com reported.
In one study of 499 primary care physicians, just 4 percent encouraged their patients to keep the baby. A 2006 survey for the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists showed that doctors are not trained to share positive information about children with Down syndrome.
That inadequate and incomplete counsel has prompted Down syndrome support groups to spring up across the nation.
“There is one thing that the mothers spoke very clearly on in my research — the connection with other parents made a big difference,” said Dr. Brian Skotko, a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital, told CNSNews. Skotko has a sister with Down syndrome and serves on the boards of several Down syndrome advocacy groups.
— Jennifer Mesko
