Frances Oldham Kelsey, Who Saved U.S. Babies from Thalidomide, Dies at 101

[dthal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/08/science/frances-oldham-kelsey-fda-doctor-who-exposed-danger-of-thalidomide-dies-at-101.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

[ClintFix]

I guess I'm confused. Most of these people that are praising Kelsey for "saving these children" are pro-choice. In other words, they're glad that the mother can't take drugs to help her feel better during the first and second trimester to protect the baby, but if the mother wans to to straight up kill the child, that's the mother's choice and is ok.

Cognitive dissonance much?

[moioci → ClintFix]

People, both pro-life and pro-choice, do not want babies to be born with phocomelia, which causes great suffering and a 50% mortality. Dr. Kelsey more or less single-handedly prevented this tragedy in the US. It's not confusing at all.

[Nexxxeh → ClintFix]

The difference is informed consent. If the mother wanted to keep the child, and the drug she was given caused horrific birth defects...

[pvaldes → ClintFix]

> Most of these people that are praising Kelsey for saving these children are pro-choice

Nice imaginary data... I'm sure that anti-abortion people hate also the idea of having babies without legs, arms, eyes or ears.

[rawTruthHurts → ClintFix]

Where is the cognitive dissonance here? What's the background (like family, health, personal circumstances) for the cases you're proposing?