Reactions of Mothers and Medical Professionals to a Film About Down Syndrome

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Abstract
• Parents, genetic counselors, and nurses were shown an 18-minute videotaped discussion involving parents of persons with Down syndrome and were asked to complete an evaluation. Some of the statistically significant differences were as follows: 89% of mothers believed that the film was an accurate portrayal of parental attitudes compared with 14% of the genetic counselors and 40% of the nurses; 48% of genetic counselors believed that problems outweigh the benefits in parenting a child with Down syndrome, but 94% of mothers and 83% of nurses thought that the benefits predominated; and 56% of genetic counselors believed that parents of a child with Down syndrome would choose to abort a subsequent affected fetus while only 8% of parents and 10% of nurses agreed. It is important that medical professionals have a balanced and accurate view of the impact of Down syndrome on families. (AJDC. 1990;144:1112-1116)