ANTONIA NOVELLO, M.D.

On Abortion...

Dr. Novello does not feel abortion is appropriate if a woman tests positive for HIV and then discovers she is pregnant.

"There are many cases in which a baby born to an HIV-infected mother is not infected with the virus", Dr. Novello said.

"As a pediatrician, I have to think of two people - the mother and the child. I feel strongly about all children born with diseases. How do you make a decision which one is good and which one is bad? I believe every life should have a chance.

"I was born with a congenital disease, and if my mother had taken the option of abortion, if she had said, `because the baby is defective, she should not be here,' then you wouldn't have me sitting here before you today."

Dr. Novello was born with congenital megacolon, which was corrected by surgery when she was 18 years old.

Dr. Novello was appointed Surgeon General by President George Bush in 1990.

What Would You Decide?

The father has syphilis and the mother has tuberculosis. They have had four children. The first one was blind, the second one died, the third one was deaf and dumb, and the fourth one had tuberculosis.

The mother then gave birth to her fifth child whom we remember as Ludwig van Beethoven.

Had he been conceived during the past twenty years would the world have had an opportunity to hear his glorious music? Or would he have been aborted?