Family who was encouraged to abort daughter testifies in favor of medical transparency

Family photo of Faith Smith

While pregnant with Faith, Brad and Jesi Smith were encouraged on multiple occasions by their doctors to have an abortion after Faith was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 while in the womb.  The Smiths refused and after Faith was born, doctors refused to repair holes in Faith's heart until they sought treatment at another hospital.  This week, the Smiths traveled to Lansing to testify about the importance of hospitals providing transparency regarding treatments they consider futile. 

A proposed state law would force hospitals to be up front with patients and loved ones when doctors believe treatment is medically futile.

And this morning, the reason behind the Medical Good Faith Provisions Act — a little girl named Faith — sat with her brothers and sisters at a meeting of the House of Representatives Health Policy Committee, babbling and fidgeting and studying the room around her. Now 4, she has defied doctor's expectations that she'd die before her first birthday.

FULL STORY