TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO:
Whereas Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always existed;
Whereas Down syndrome is universal across racial, gender, and socioeconomic lines;
Whereas the effects from the extra genetic material vary from person to person, and the degree of resulting developmental delay also varies;
Whereas as parents, community professionals, educators and self-advocates, our goal is to support individuals with Down syndrome as they go about leading productive and fulfilling lives.
We the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:
amend the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 to require that the Minister ensure that up-to-date, evidence based information relating to Down syndrome is made available to members and to the public. The Act is further amended to require that members share this information with expectant parent or parents when they communicate a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome and that they refrain from recommending any further testing or treatment in relation to the diagnosis of Down syndrome for a 48-hour period unless explicitly requested or unless the member is of the opinion that the performance of the testing or treatment is necessary during the 48-hour period.