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Posted on 05/12/2025 12:31:47 PM PDT by Morgana
In one of the worst wrongful birth lawsuits in history, the parents of a daughter with cystic fibrosis have won $2 million in a lawsuit against their OBGYN, claiming their daughter’s disability prevents them from enjoying their lives.
A Connecticut couple won a $2 million settlement in the lawsuit, a case that pro-life advocates say devalues the inherent worth of every human being.
Elizabeth and Eric Trotter filed the suit in 2020, alleging that medical negligence prevented them from making an informed decision about their daughter Madelyn’s conception or birth.
Madelyn, now 6, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis shortly after her 2018 birth. The genetic disorder, caused by a mutation inherited from both parents, leads to thick mucus buildup in the lungs and other organs, requiring extensive medical care. The Trotters argued that their doctor failed to test Elizabeth for the cystic fibrosis gene during her pregnancies, depriving them of the chance to avoid conceiving Madelyn or potentially killing her in an abortion.
They claimed their daughter’s condition has caused them emotional distress and limited their personal and professional lives, a stance that pro-life groups argue reduces a child’s value to a consumerist standard of “perfection.”
From a pro-life perspective, the lawsuit raises profound ethical concerns, suggesting that a child’s life can be deemed a harm if it comes with challenges.
Framing a child’s existence as a loss undermines the dignity of all individuals, especially those with disabilities. Madelyn is a beautiful, valuable human being, and her life is a gift, not a burden.
The Trotters’ legal victory highlights the growing prevalence of “wrongful birth” lawsuits, which pro-life advocates criticize as promoting a culture that views disabled children as undesirable. In this case, the couple claimed Madelyn’s medical needs, including twice-daily respiratory therapy and frequent hospitalizations, have forced them to prioritize her care over their own aspirations.
Yet, pro-life commentators point to stories like that of Carsten Manring, a teenager with cystic fibrosis who attended a similar trial to demonstrate that the condition does not preclude a fulfilling life. Manring, an avid hunter and skier, told a Montana courtroom, “CF doesn’t hold me back.”
Pro-life groups hope Madelyn’s story will inspire a reevaluation of such lawsuits, emphasizing that every life has intrinsic worth. They argue that instead of seeking damages for a child’s existence, society should focus on supporting families with resources and medical advancements, which have extended cystic fibrosis life expectancy to around 50 years.
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RIP Stacey
I am ashamed to be part of the current culture in America at times Like this. I wish them a speed-pass straight to judgement on their souls.
This seems insane. They sued their OBGYN for birthing the baby? And won?!?
I’ve never heard of anyone getting a prenatal cystic fibrosis test. This just sounds ridiculous
What a despicable, selfish, self-centered couple. It’ s “all about meeeee!”
I guess this is what Obama meant by being punished with a baby.
The child deserves better parents than this.
They recently made huge inroads to curing CF, or at least curing the symptoms..
The jury ...ugh. Six people who probably think of themselves as “good persons.”
No..the dr didn’t test the mother genetically which would have let parents chose to not get pregnant or at least prepare if they chose to have a child,
To not test parents for serious genetic issues is medical negligence
Time to stop practicing medicine in Connecticut, at least baby doctor wise.
My cousin has CF. I am a carrier. Our doctor tested my wife for CF before we decided to get pregnant. If both are carriers then it’s better than 50/50 that the child will have it.
When did that become the standard of care for OBGYN? To my knowledge, there is no systematic identification of potential DNA issues for the purpose of weeding them out and terminating the birth.
They see this person suffering, and that person with a lot of money.
So they play Santa Claus with the rich's person's money.
We were warned before the birth of our 3rd child that he would have severe disabilities.
That severely disabled boy graduated high school, won several academic awards, got his driver’s license, has life-long friends, works out regularly at the gym, and got engaged to a beautiful young lady (seriously, she’s not just lovely on the inside, she’s very pretty, earns good money, and adores him to distraction).
Was life hard? Heck, yes, it was. He was bullied incessantly for being different, until he clobbered one bully so badly that the rest stayed away. He was socially awkward. He had trouble learning.
At the same time, he has advanced computer skills, is hardworking, courteous, and ethical, can remember and pronouce foreign names easily (even in different languages), has a wicked sense of humor, is a peacemaker, knows when I am going to have a seizure even before I do, and can tell instantly if a person has a dark soul.
These people are lower than bridge trolls. Remove that child from their care. They are not parents. They are breeders, at best.
When I lived in SF decades ago, I had a good friend, a brilliant lawyer with cystic fibrosis. He could walk pretty well for awhile, but the disease just kept getting worse and worse. Married a very nice young woman who loves him anyway, bought a nice house near Golden Gate Park. She pushes him in a wheelchair now.
I hope these rotten excuses for parents rot in hell starting tomorrow. Their child deserves parents like Howard has.
Standard pre natal care now. There are many genetic test given now, go research it.
>So they play Santa Claus with the rich’s person’s money.
No, Civil juries in the USA are lottery commissions. IMHO.
Did the parents make the doctor aware? Did they request an amniocentesis?
You are correct. There is no requirement, at least there wasn’t one when I was having babies.
Here they are..."enjoying life".
“Forced to prioritize her care over their aspirations”.
Oh, wow. Well, a healthy child would require the same commitment, which apparently they hadn’t considered or were going to pass said responsibility on to a nanny or someone else. And, a healthy child vs a CF child—who is to say what percentage more, in terms of time and effort, a CF child would be. They could have had a healthy child that developed cancer or was hit by a car requiring more work. Really no way to measure this aspect.
They also failed to consider that they both, are 50% each, 100% in total, responsible for the child’s inheriting CF.
So, in my estimation they are at fault and are owed ZERO.
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