THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 13, 1995 TAG: 9503100022
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
As the sister of a 40-year-old woman with Down syndrome, I can tell you why Down embryos should not be manually implanted.
Joel Myers is mildly retarded and therefore has the ability to do his job (``Weed out Down embryos? Why?'' news, Feb. 24). However, not only is fruitful employment extremely rare in Hampton Roads or anywhere else for the mildly retarded, there is virtually nothing available short of lifelong bed-ridden home care for those Down-afflicted patients who can't sit, talk or ever be toilet-trained.
Life is hard enough for the mentally able. Why purposely bring into the world a human being who will struggle at best and be on life support for his entire life at worst? Why not choose an embryo that has a better chance?
Finally, what happens to the medium-range to profoundly retarded when their parents die and there are no siblings? Is some bleeding heart at your newspaper going to take them in?
GAIL L. DUPRE
Virginia Beach, Feb. 27, 1995 by CNB