As Dr. Seuss put it, “A person’s a person, no matter how small!” Who would understand that better than the parents? Join us today on Home School Heartbeat to hear host Mike Farris and his guest discuss how the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities affects parental rights.
Mike Farris:
Rick, can you tell us how your own daughter’s story would have been impacted if this treaty was in control at the time that she was being born and was being treated?
Sen. Santorum:
Well, this is why it was so important to us. Because our daughter has a condition—Isabella—called Trisomy 18; it is a very, very serious disability and one that generally does lead to the death of the child. But Bella’s an exception to that, a beautiful and wonderful and blessed exception to that. But if you are a physician and you are now in the position in a system that is increasingly government-run medicine, and you are now in the position to say, “We shouldn’t be spending resources on a child like that, and it’s in her best interest not to live and suffer with these medical and physical disabilities.” For us, this was a direct assault on our ability to do what we believe is in the best interest of our child, and give her the best chance.
So, it is very personal for us not just because of our Bella, but because of the families that we have met who have similar conditions, or the same conditions. If this was the standard, where the parents didn’t have the final say, the states did, these kids would not have a chance.
Mike: Rick, thank you for being willing to share your family’s story and how this treaty affects you. I’m Mike Farris.
