[dpiers]

We already live in a world where parents decide whether or not a child with Down Syndrome will be born.

60-90% of prenatal diagnoses in the US result in an elective termination. The number is nearly 100% in Iceland and some other Nordic countries. Unlike autism or ADHD, we have a very clear understanding of exactly what causes Down Syndrome and now potentially how to correct it. A treatment like this is no different from correcting a congenital heart defect - it gives a baby a chance at normal, healthy development.

[rob74]

Ok, that just leaves us with another quandary: deciding whether to terminate the pregnancy (hoping that the parents will get a "normal" child on the next try), or let the child be born and use this (no doubt very expensive) therapy to cure it? Not sure medical insurers would cover it? Maybe Christian anti-abortion groups will donate money for this therapy to parents who choose to have a child with Down syndrome? OTOH, they might consider that interfering with God's will to have an impaired child be born?

[Qem]

> it gives a baby a chance at normal, healthy development.

And a chance of not being killed in utero. Abortion for Down is sad, because despite cognitive impairment and health complications, their lifespans are long, and emotional development is quite spared by the syndrome. They can be very affectionate and sociable, despite the impairment. Abortion for them feels like death penalty for being dumb.

[falcor84]

I don't think that this is about being "dumb", but rather about being able to support oneself.

Becoming a parent and taking on the responsibility to support a child financially and emotionally for 18 years as you gradually prepare them for independent life is already a massively difficult decision, particularly when looking at the worldwide decline in birth rates. Expecting people to knowingly and ahead of time take on responsibility for a child who most likely will never be able to support themselves and a raise their own family seems really unreasonable to me.