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October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a time to recognize the accomplishments of people with Down syndrome and advocate for better resources, services, and research into improving the health and wellbeing of people with Down syndrome and their families. And so the timing of Jane Brody's lazy and poorly researched piece on "Breakthroughs in Prenatal Screening" was particularly unfortunate.

The essay begins with an anecdote about a friend who, more than 30 years ago, was advised that amniocentesis was "too dangerous" and ended up giving birth to a child "severely affected" by Down syndrome. "Today," Brody continues, "my friend's story would have a different trajectory." Thanks to the availability of safer and less expensive screening tests, she would have known her fetus had Down syndrome and "given the option to abort the pregnancy."

Brody goes on to sing the praises of the latest developments in prenatal screening. She could not have done it better if she were being paid directly by the pharmaceutical corporations pushing these products, some of which are not yet approved for safety and effectiveness by...