SubscribeCosts for prenatal careThe benefits in health are enormous, but here's the kicker for you reluctant to spend taxes on the poor:
In an average pregnancy, doctors typically recommend that expectant mothers visit their obstetrician-gynecologist once a month for the first 6 months, twice a month for the seventh and eighth month, and then once a week for the last month of pregnancy.2 On average, you'll visit your ob-gyn approximately 14 times for prenatal care.
According to a 2003 report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average amount charged to patients for prenatal and postnatal care was $133 per visit.3
Therefore, 14 appointments at a cost of $133 each adds up to $1,862. Tests such as laboratory blood work or ultrasound may add to these costs.
Studies estimate that every dollar spent on prenatal care yields between $1.70 and $3.38 in savings by reducing neonatal complications.So this mode of taxing and spending is an investment. I know that's hard for some of you brainless "no more taxes" fok to wrap your head around, since your ideology says the government can never spend your taxes in a wise way unless it's used to kill people in other countries or turrists, but there you go. If you're curious, look into dollars spent on early childhood education or college assistance or just about any education. Yep, all investments that pay back big, at least 16% return per year (for example). I wish we could change the discussion about taxes from "cut taxes now" to "which expenditures are actually investments that return real dollars to the tax payer." The discussion currently is done at the 2nd-grade level of argument.
American Journal of Medical GeneticsNext time, try not to be an ass.
Volume 5 Issue 4, Pages 345 - 356
Chromosome findings in 2,500 second trimester amniocenteses
Barbara F. Crandall, MD 1 *, Thomas B. Lebherz 2, Lidia Rubinstein 2, Robert D. Robertson 2, William F. Sample 3, Dennis Sarti 3, Judy Howard 4, John M. Opitz
Abstract
We have analyzed the chromosome abnormalities found in 2,500 amniocenteses for prenatal diagnosis; 1,887 (75%) were performed because the maternal age was 34 years or more. Chromosome abnormalities were detected in 1.80% of those referred for advanced maternal age, 1.2% between ages 34 and 39 years and 4.6% 40 years and over. Of these, four occurred in women who would have been 34 years at delivery (2.9%). Trisomy 21 accounted for 50% of the chromosome abnormalities; sex chromosome abnormalities, for 25%; the remaining 25% was divided equally between trisomy 18 and partial trisomies and mosaics. Unexpected translocations were found in 0.4%, of which two-thirds were balanced and identified in one parent. The accuracy was 99.6%.
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.You want to save society's money? Stop the war.
This world in arms in not spending money alone.
It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.
The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities.
It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population.
It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals.
It is some 50 miles of concrete highway.
We pay for a single fighter with a half million bushels of wheat.
We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people.
There is a definite link with advanced maternal age for reasons yet unknown. However, most babies with Down's syndrome are born to women under the age of 35, as younger women have higher fertility rates.
Nothing done before or during pregnancy can cause Down's syndrome. It occurs in all races, social classes and in all countries throughout the world. It can happen to anyone.
don't many classical religious views hold that there isn't even a soul until about 4 months in, when the fetus 'quickens'?
Medical care is never decided on issues of dollars and cents.
The most common manifestations of Down syndrome are the characteristic facial features, cognitive impairment, congenital heart disease (typically a ventricular septal defect), hearing deficits (maybe due to sensory-neural factors, or chronic serous otitis media, also known as Glue-ear), short stature, thyroid disorders, and Alzheimer's disease. Other less common serious illnesses include leukemia, immune deficiencies, and epilepsy.I can't believe people are actually arguing in favor of doing that to another human being. Acorns are not oak trees, people.
To "set up a straw man," one describes a position that superficially resembles an opponent's actual view, yet is easier to refute, then attributes that position to the opponent.I believe that the statements superficially resemble the opinions they putatively paraphrase, but they are different. The strawmanned statements are merely declaring the reasons the writer have for why they would choose to abort. I have seen no one yet on this thread claim that they would force anyone else to abort. So I used the term strawman to describe this mischaracterization. But, using Wiki's definition, I am wrong. You see, for it to be a true straw man under that definition, onlyconnect and Gooch would have needed to actually rebut the statements, which they did not do. They merely pointed a shaming finger, which clearly is not a rebuttal. So, you're right, no straw man, just very poor argumentation.
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Brr. I find this kind of analysis very disturbing.
posted by prefpara at 7:36 PM on September 15, 2008 [14 favorites has favorites]