I debated for quite a while whether to reply to Sarah Brady’s article. However, I felt I should do so, if only to offer another perspective to the discussion.
Sarah, thank you for speaking openly about a topic filled with emotion and history. It takes courage to discuss abortion honestly, and I admire your willingness to do so as a future doctor. I also value your emphasis on patient autonomy. That is very important.
I’d like to add another perspective that isn’t always heard in these discussions. Many parents receive devastating news during pregnancy. A genetic diagnosis can feel like the ground has shifted beneath their feet. In those moments, families need space. Space to breathe. Space to grieve the hopes they had. Space to think about what kind of life their child might lead. And most importantly, space to make decisions without pressure in either direction.
My wife and I have a son with an intellectual disability. He is now an adult who brings joy into every room he enters. He works at a grocery store and is loved there. He has performed on stage in dozens of musicals with his acting troupe. He reads at a kindergarten level, writes very little, and still reminds us every day of how beautiful and surprising life can be. I can’t imagine our world without him. He is one of the greatest gifts we have ever received.
Not every family will choose the same path we did. That’s part of what makes this such a complex area of medicine. But I hope we, as doctors, learn to offer more than just a clinical description of disability. I hope we remember to say: some children may never run as fast or speak as clearly as others, but they live rich and joyful lives. They love and are loved. They belong here.
When parents learn their baby has a genetic abnormality (as we did), how physicians communicate with them can shape their future. They deserve compassion, clarity, and a supportive, non-coercive environment. Some families will choose abortion, while others will decide to continue the pregnancy. Both choices deserve support and respect.
As you enter this field, remember that medicine isn’t just about preventing suffering. It’s also about helping families find meaning in the lives they build and protect. Abortion rights are a vital part of reproductive healthcare. So is honoring the profound and hopeful choices to welcome a child with differences into the world.
Thank you again for your thoughtful article. I’m grateful we can learn from one another as we navigate these hard places with empathy and respect.
Dr. David Beyda, MD
Dr. Beyda was appointed Chair and Professor of the Department of Bioethics and Medical Humanism in 2013. He is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, where he also directs the Ethics Theme, as well as the Global Health Program.