THREAD: Testifying in South Dakota today in support of HB 1110, a #prolife bill which would protect unborn children from abortion due to a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome 1/10

I'm honored to testify alongside Katie Shaw, an anti-discrimination advocate who has Down syndrome, and @SueSwayzeLiebel, State Policy Director for @SBAList 2/10

South Dakota needs HB 1110 to protect babies diagnosed with trisomy 21 against disability discrimination through abortion.

There's well-documented evidence globally showing that babies are aborted at an alarming rate after receiving a “positive” prenatal trisomy 21 result. 3/10

Just a few stats demonstrating lethal discrimination:

- 1999 UK study: 92% abortion rate if diagnosed

- 2012 US review of literature: 61% - 93% abortion rate if diagnosed

- 2015 AUS report: 93% rate if diagnosed 4/10

Destroying the patient is not curative medicine. Today's rates of abortion in the case of a Down syndrome diagnosis are nothing more than a modern-day form of eugenics. 5/10

We need to consider preborn children with Down syndrome as equally valued human lives.

With appropriate medical care, children born with Down syndrome can lead healthy, happy lives with an average life expectancy of 60 years. 6/10

There is evidence that babies with Down syndrome may one day benefit from research of a prenatal treatment with neuroprotective peptides or fluoxetine that can prevent learning deficits, correct intellectual disability... 7/10

...and even improve cognitive performance in a Down syndrome mouse model.

So rather than eliminating their lives, we must strive to advance medical treatments that can heal, not harm, after detecting a risk of Down syndrome. 8/10

HB 1110 would provide necessary, distinct protections for developing human beings at risk for Down syndrome, preventing discrimination based on genetics or disability. 9/10

Every preborn child, with or without Down syndrome, is a human being--a precious member of the human species that deserves LIFE. 10/10