All Saints

Subject: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 6:53

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23793979-5001021,00.html

cheers

It's hit the papers.

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 7:22

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 7:27

Wooo hooo
Last time I spoke to someone at Down syndrome Queensland they hadn’t had anyone contact them. One mum on the Yahoo group had sent an email asking a particular (not sure who she was, but got the feeling she was a person to ask) if she could ask for an apology
I wonder if their was another child questioned at school or was their another?

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 8:01

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 8:06

Fantastic

Will have to remember to watch tomorrow night! See if they say anything.

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 8:22

Fantastic!

I was just wondering though about the group the article refers to,
"Down Syndrome Australia". I googled it and couldn't find
anything.

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 8:49

There is an Australian Yahoo group the lady from QLD sent me the email, about one lady asking something be done about it (an apology) On the Yahoo group it says it’s an Australian one, not of one state, so I would think it’s this or that each state agrees to join together for this sort of thing.

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 10:07

just had this email come through, at first i thought it was from the station but no.
it's all good and at least the facts are out, they have confirmed to DSQ what they said to me via phone see A and B
thanks again everyone

Hi Cathy
You may have been wondering if we were following up on the All Saints show after you rang. Yes, we certainly have been.
We referred the issue to the national DSA network (of which QLD is a member) as it is a national issue.
The attached media release went to the Sydney Telegraph at the weekend and this morning the story is No 3 headline on their website.
We’ll what happens now we have been able to gain information that
a) shows the script writers did select Down syndrome as their choice of genetic defect that may occur out of an incestuous relationship and
b) that their specific research and reasoning is wrong
Lets hope the retraction and apology is fast coming.
Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
Cheers

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 11:24

I've heard of Down Syndrome Australia but don't really know anything about it except that it's a conglomerate of the state associations.

YAY! Public has a voice Very Happy

Cas

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 11:30

The story is now on the cover of ninemsn too clap

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 12:20

BRILLIANT

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 14:16

Ok I wasn't sure if I could post this but just recieved an email saying it it was embargoed until 5am this morning as it was exclusively with the Telegraph but now it is on general release

Down syndrome Australia MEDIA RELEASE
2 June 2008
All Saints Face Legal Challenge
Down Syndrome Australia is seeking legal advice over an episode of Channel 7
drama All Saints that erroneously insinuates children with Down syndrome are
products of incestuous relationships.
Down Syndrome Australia spokesperson Dr Peter Sloan said that the episode was
“highly offensive and singled out people with Down syndrome and their families for
public ridicule”.
Down Syndrome Australia requests “a public apology on Channel 7 by All Saints
producers”.
All Saints has claimed incest “greatly increased” the likelihood of conceiving a child
with Down syndrome, but a clinical geneticist has dismissed the episode as “not
plausible”.
“All Saints has stigmatised every person with Down syndrome and their families. We
already know of one instance where a child has been victimised because of this All
Saints episode” Dr Sloan said.
“It is not only discriminatory to insinuate that people with Down syndrome are
products of incestuous relationships, it is wrong”.
“There is no scientific basis for All Saints’ grossly offensive storyline”.
“Down Syndrome Australia is seeking legal advice on this matter. We will also be
complaining to the major advertisers currently supporting All Saints, the Federal
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, the Federal Arts Minister, Peter Garrett, and
the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
“This is just another example of the myths and stereotypes that continue to
perpetuate discrimination against people with Down syndrome in the community.”
The offending episode, “Never Tell” (episode 432), aired on May 27. It includes a
storyline about a brother and sister who are having an incestuous relationship and
conceive a child who may have Down syndrome as a consequence.
Page 2/2
In an email to Down Syndrome Australia, All Saints script producer Louise Crane-
Bowes said the show dealt with the moral debate surrounding the “incest scenario”
and that “part of the medical argument that took place was the increased risk of
genetic disorders for the unborn child”.
According to Ms Crane-Bowes:
“Our medical advisor (who is a registered nurse) spoke to a geneticist during
the writing process and was told that two carriers (ie brother and sister) of
translocation trisomy 21 who exhibited no traits of Down Syndrome itself
could pass it on to their unborn child. And while the heriditary [sic] scenario
for Down Syndrome was rare, the incest factor in our particular story greatly
increased the chance of it effecting an unborn child.”
David Amor, FRACP PhD – who is a Clinical Geneticist at Genetic Health Services
Victoria, Clinical Genetics Research Group Leader at Murdoch Childrens Research
Institute and an Associate Professor at University of Melbourne Department of
Paediatrics – said All Saints’ medical justification was “not plausible”:
“The scriptwriters (or their advisors) have definitely got their wires crossed
here.”
“The offspring of incestuous relationships are at high risk of genetic
disorders, but this risk is entirely confined to autosomal recessive disorders
(that is, where a faulty gene is inherited by the child in a ‘double dose’, one
copy from each parent. There is absolutely no increase in the risk of Down
syndrome (or of other chromosomal conditions) for the offspring of
incestuous relationships. The justification provided regarding translocations is
not plausible.”

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 14:21

Excellent indeed. They are going to have to apologise. Hope they make it good.

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 14:40

Boy taunted after Seven's Down syndrome gaff
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=573089

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 14:42

Have you read some of the replys posted on ninemsn, some of them think we need to get over it as it is only a "fictional" show. doh!

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 14:42

And all credit to you Adens mum for pushing on this. You're our star Smile

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 15:07

Oh no I didnt' even see it. thanks to Nicola and the ladys' at Ds QLD clap

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 15:13

Cath13 wrote:: Have you read some of the replys posted on ninemsn, some of them think we need to get over it as it is only a "fictional" show.

Ewll the show makes claims that their information is based on truth and is the most up to date information past on to their writers from medical professionals, (at least now we know who these are, a nurse relaying info from their geneticist)
Bet they thought they had something when they panicked and tried to find a link, with [/size][size=12]translocations.
silly fools

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 15:25

I am speechless Cathy! Who are these dickheads Naughty

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 15:37

Right, those replies have completely pissed me off. Have had to write a post of my own. How ignorant!

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 15:52

You know I’m thinking they are the same ones who would abort babies’
Di I have sent you a Pm too about the DVD’s

Subject: Re: All Saints Mon 2 Jun 2008 - 16:57

I was really excited about the article until I started to read the comments! Banging head

Ignorant pigs!!!

Subject: Re: All Saints Tue 3 Jun 2008 - 9:43

A couple more links:

All Saints facing legal action over incest slur (www.news.com.au/entertainment)

All Saints in trouble over Down Syndrome smea (ww.scopical.com.au/articles)

Cas

Subject: Re: All Saints Tue 3 Jun 2008 - 11:52

Have a read of this one;

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=573639

Subject: Re: All Saints Tue 3 Jun 2008 - 12:17

Cath These parents with kids with Ds dont muck around ha.
My goodness they aren’t going to just get away with this.
This kind of stuff makes me excited to be part of this community, fancy never knowing such passion exist in people. I never knew before having Aden. Not sur I’m making sense