I recently reported that in the U.S. every year, 40,000 children are born suffering with fetal alcoholic syndrome disease (FASD). In sa国际传媒, there are 300,000 living with this problem. I asked: 鈥淲hy doesn鈥檛 this human tragedy get as much attention as drunk driving?鈥�
And 鈥淪hould some of the women involved be sterilized?鈥� I鈥檝e received a ton of responses.
SR writes: 鈥淚 believe the Mothers against Drunk Driving lobby gets more attention because the media provides many dollars of free air time.鈥�
R0 responds: 鈥淒r, you are so-o-o-o-o right. Women who drink during pregnancy need to be sterilized. Full stop. Thank you and keep up the good work鈥�.听听 听
NB wrote: 鈥淵our column should be made mandatory in every bar, liquor/beer store, transit vehicle, doctor鈥檚 office and pharmacy. It should also be taught every year from Grade 6 up.鈥�
From MG: 鈥淭here are many hard-truths about FASD that some people seem unable to face, and I appreciate you have spoken up about this terrible and preventable condition that is thrust upon the most vulnerable of our species. You have my support, along with my girlfriend, a third- year medical student.鈥澨� 听
A school-bus driver reported that a FASD child disrupted his entire bus. 鈥淚 would tell him to sit down and he would kick and spit at me. I do not agree that these challenged children should be allowed to be in the mainstream, as it takes away from the other children. Thank you for you honesty and the information you provide.鈥�
An anonymous reader did not thank me. She remarked: 鈥淒runk driving causes deaths. FASD does not. As a doctor you must have been educated?????鈥�
Another reader said: 鈥淵our article is intelligent, well-argued, but has an extreme and unreasonable conclusion. Drunk drivers can be ordered to go to AA. Possibly pregnant mothers could be forced to attend AA, give breath samples, and be sent to jail for the rest of the pregnancy for failing to comply.鈥�
GU writes: 鈥淢others who drink during pregnancy should be prosecuted as child abusers. Why is it that the medical establishment isn鈥檛 outraged about this issue and doesn鈥檛 speak up about it? It appears our health and judicial systems need a major overhaul. Thanks for the education.鈥�
Some families reported in great detail the trouble and stress of caring for a FASD child.
D. B. says: 鈥淕reat article but you will receive a lot of negative mail [against] any intrusion into the lives of women. Our adopted daughter had FASD and we watched her grow into a beautiful woman. She has elongated fingers on one hand, no toes on one foot, her ears are not fully rotated and she has hip problems. She has no concept of money, no moral standards, no emotional stability, the list goes on and on.鈥澨� 听
Some readers said I should spend some time on a First Nations reserve to see the extent of the problem. Actually, I鈥檝e recently been to one and will soon report on their other health problems, particularly Type 2 diabetes.
Another couple who adopted two children later discovered they both had FASD.
They reported that 鈥渢he short version of our life is that it鈥檚 moments of pure hell. But we love them. We have 10 grandkids and we suspect six are affected with FASD.鈥�
R.A. writes: 鈥淚 have never seen these shocking financial stats of caring for these children. It鈥檚 an eye-opener and is truly a national economic and moral issue.鈥�
The majority of readers were surprised at the extent of the problem.
They were particularly appalled that women would be allowed to continue to have additional FASD children considering the social chaos that results.
听The FASD problem will continue to be swept under the rug. But I hope my column will alert everyone to the potential dangers of alcohol during pregnancy.听 听
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Remember, I am not your doctor so this column is not meant to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure disease and is only for informational purposes. So always consult with your doctor.
