Table of Contents
Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? 11
Introduction 14
Chapter 1 What Are Common Birth Defects?
Chapter Preface 18
1 Congenital Heart Defects Are Common Birth Defects 20
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
2 Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Are Common Birth Defects 32
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3 Down Syndrome Is a Common Chromosomal Birth Condition 36
National Down Syndrome Society
4 Spina Bifida Is a Common Birth Defect 42
Spina Bifida Association
5 Birth Defects 48
World Health Organization
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 57
Chapter 2 What Causes Birth Defects?
Chapter Preface 59
1 Environmental Pollution Can Cause Birth Defects Christina Larson 61
2 Proving That Environmental Pollution Causes Birth Defects Is Difficult Jacques Leslie 67
3 Assisted Reproduction Is Not a Significant Risk for Birth Defects Ronald Bailey 79
4 The Use of Certain Antibiotics During Pregnancy May Cause Birth Defects Jeffrey T. Jensen 83
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 88
Chapter 3 Should Pregnant Women Undergo Screening for Birth Defects?
Chapter Preface 90
1 Routine Prenatal Screening Should Be Available to Pregnant Women Darshak Sanghavi 93
2 New Prenatal Genetic Tests Offer Safe Early Screening for Birth Defects Erin Biba 100
3 New Prenatal Genetic Tests Raise Tricky Ethical Questions Harriet A. Washington 113
4 Love Is the Antidote to Prenatal Eugenic Cleansing Wesley J. Smith 119
5 Prenatal Testing Does Not Necessarily Lead to More Abortion Amy Julia Becker 124
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 130
Chapter 4 How Should Birth Defects Be Addressed?
Chapter Preface 132
1 The Argument That It Is Morally Permissible to Kill Defective Newborns Is Absurd Andrew Ferguson 135
2 Amniocentesis Should Be Offered More Regularly to Younger Pregnant Women Ray Fisman 142
3 Birth Defects Should Not Necessarily Result in Abortion Steve Hall 148
4 Social Norms Must Follow Law in Acceptance of People with Disabilities Dov Fox Christopher L. Griffin Jr. 152
5 Abortions Performed Because of Genetic Abnormalities Should Be Banned Denise M. Burke 157
6 Women Should Be Able to Choose Abortion or Life When Faced with Fetal Abnormalities Andrew Solomon 162
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 167
For Further Discussion 168
Organizations to Contact 170
Bibliography of Books 176
Index 179
