Crain's Chicago Business, February 8, 2010

Mike Colias' recent article about a wrongful birth lawsuit was a balanced and thoughtful treatment of a difficult subject (Crain's, Jan. 4). In addition to a well-written synopsis of the case, Mr. Colias also examined the growing field of genetic services and the risk involved for providers of those services. However, all of the careful work he put into his piece was undone by a headline writer's shocking choice of words.

The article is titled, "Genetic tests could be next medical-malpractice jackpot."

Jackpot? At the heart of this case are anguished parents who are caring for two severely disabled children. The relief they seek is to care for their second son, born only after geneticists assured them that there was no genetic link to the condition of their eldest child. How anyone could be so insensitive as to consider assistance to care for a medically fragile child as a "jackpot" is beyond comprehension.

Contrary to what the headline writer may think, settlements in cases such as these are no cause for celebration. When all is said and done in this instance, there will remain a little boy who will need intensive care and attention for the rest of his life, and there will remain his parents, who will provide much of that care and attention. So tell me, where is the jackpot? And who won?

Peter J. Flowers
President, Illinois Trial Lawyers Assn.
St. Charles