April 19, 2010 4:02 PM
Abortionist targets Down syndrome twin, kills other by mistake - now both dead
Ugh. It doesn't help that this Neanderthal reporter calls the baby with Down syndrome a "deformed fetus." It's that kind of thinking that causes people to fear having a child with Down syndrome to the extent that they would kill one twin and not the other.
Doctor's license revoked after botched abortion
The Associated PressTAMPA, Fla. -- A Sarasota doctor has lost his license for mistakenly aborting a healthy twin during a procedure targeting a deformed fetus.
Immediately after the Florida Board of Medicine's decision Saturday, Dr. Matthew Kachinas was involuntarily hospitalized because he said he planned to commit suicide.
Kachinas had blamed faulty ultrasound equipment for the 2006 mistake. He was targeting a fetus with Down syndrome and signs of a heart defect.
The 50-year-old doctor had never performed the procedure before, but said he didn't like to tell patients "no."
Kachinas represented himself before the board and in a previous hearing, Health News Florida reported. He spent most of his time arguing two less serious allegations, admitting in the twin case he "screwed up."
Comment at the Miami Herald.
HT: Sue
Full story - including the even sadder ending that the mother had the surviving twin killed two days later - at Americans United for Life.
For another perspective, read this from the 7/20/07 UK Mail:
The twins who are 'one in a million'
By MORAG TURNERWhen 42-year-old Cathleen Gardiner's twins were born 17 years ago, doctors told her they were a "pair in a million".
One had Down's syndrome, while the other did not. Here, Cathleen, a former IT specialist who lives in Strathclyde with her husband Paul, an account manager for Yellow Pages, tells MORAG TURNER their touching and inspiring story...
Relaxing on the beach in Ibiza, I couldn't have been happier as I watched my twins, Sean and Lisa, then eight, playing in the sand with their five-year-old brother Daniel.
They spent hours pottering about with their buckets and spades together like best friends. Every so often I'd wander down to the water's edge to reapply their sun cream or give them a drink.
It was after one of these trips that the woman lying on the lounger beside mine turned and said to me: "I think it's so brave of you to bring your son on holiday with you. It's so nice he gets to be part of the family."
At first I didn't really know what she was talking about - of course I'd take all of my children on holiday!
Two peas in a pod: Lisa Gardiner has always shared a remarkable bond with her brother Sean
She must have spotted my bewildered look because she pointed to Sean and said: "I mean Down's syndrome is such a difficult thing to live with, it's amazing you manage to cope being so far from home.
"I know a family with that kind of child and they'd never be able to do this."
"I don't think she meant to be cruel or insensitive, but at the same time I wanted to scream: 'How dare you talk about my son as if he's someone to be left at home while the rest of us enjoy a fortnight in the sun.'
Since Sean was born 17 years ago, I have always taken the view that he is just as wonderful and special as my other two children.
While he may have a disability, none of us have ever viewed him as a burden, and despite meeting plenty of people over
Read more at UK Mail
Posted in Down syndrome, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink
Comments
Barbara, this story is heartbreaking! i always remember back, 15 years ago, while pregnant with our first baby. My husband and I went in to visit the "world reknown" radiologist doctor in Boston for my 18 week ultrasound. The woman had no personality, just moved the machine over my belly for a while, cleaned the paddle off, and gave me a paper towel. She said "you'd better get to your regular doctor asap, as this fetus has something seriously wrong and you will want to get something done before 22 weeks". She then left the room. Needless to say, we were devastated. We sought a second opinion (from a Catholic high-risk doctor) who confirmed that there was something in the baby's brain that was not formed. the baby would end up with hydrocephalus (sp??) and probably die soon afer birth. This doc said he had seen it two or three times in his 30 year practice. We waited a month, went back to see him and the brain was perfectly normal. Our daughter is now a beautiful, intelligent happy teenager!!! We went on to have 5 more children, each with a 'story', so i didn't really dwell on this experience too much. Though we were angry at the doctor's lack of decency, I am more incensed wondering how many others has this happened to who made the wrong choice? I thank God for my husband and our families who prayed for us during that time. One thing i will never forget during that month of waiting was me crying to my husband "why is this happening to us??" and he simply said "why not?". you are an inspiration to all moms! thanks.
Posted by: Maura | April 19, 2010 4:38 PM
In my humble opinion, the persons with a heart defect are the doctor and the mother. I'd consider having no heart to be a serious defect!
Posted by: Jennifer | April 19, 2010 6:09 PM
I read a similar story a few years ago, this time in Italy. Same thing happened, the doctor aborted the healthy twin and then after the abortion, realized that the he had not killed the baby with Down Syndrome, so then the had to kill that poor child as well. I can't even fathom how horrifying that whole event was, and now this new similiar case. I pray the parents and the doctors have real conversions to God.
Posted by: Julie | April 19, 2010 10:25 PM
It's a tragedy of charity all the way around resulting in the deaths of two people and losses untold for all affected.
Going to go hug my children now.
Posted by: Sherry | April 20, 2010 9:47 AM
I hate all abortions and wish no doctor would perform them. That being said, I am curious to know what rational the Board of Medicine used to revoke the doctor's license. He made a mistake in that he did not follow the patient's wishes, i.e. to abort the baby with Down Syndrome, but yet he routinely performed "regular" abortions all the time on healthy babies. What makes the healthy girl baby different than all the other healthy babies he killed? Is the difference only the fact that the woman "wanted" the baby girl?
This example is a sad illustration of the the capriciousness of abortion: who lives and who dies is all a matter of personal preference. No one human being should have that kind of power over another.
Posted by: Michele | April 20, 2010 10:59 AM
