In 1982 a baby boy was born in Bloomington, Indiana with Down Syndrome and a malformed esophagus. Rather than perform surgery to repair the esophagus, the baby was left to die of starvation and dehydration.

In 1984 Steve Taylor released his Meltdown album with the song Baby Doe lamenting the decision.

Unfolding today, A miracle play, This Indiana morn.
The father–he sighs, She opens her eyes, Their baby boy is born.
“We don’t understand, He’s not like we planned,” The doctor shakes his head.
“Abnormal” they cry, And so they decide, This child is better dead.

I bear the blame. Believers are few, And what am I to do?
I share the shame. The cradle’s below, And where is Baby Doe?

A hearing is sought. The lawyers are bought. The court won’t let him eat.
The papers applaud, When judges play God. This child is getting weak.
They’re drawing a bead, Reciting their creed, “Respect a woman’s choice.”
I’ve heard that before, How can you ignore, This baby has a voice.

I bear the blame. Believers are few, And what am I to do?
I share the shame. The cradle’s below, And where is Baby Doe?

Where will it end?

It’s over and done, The presses have run, Some call the parents brave.
Behind your disguise, Your rhetoric lies, You watched a baby starve.

I bear the blame. The cradle’s below, And where is baby

The judge who ruled that no one could intervene with the parents’ decision to let their child die was Judge John G. Baker. He is up for a retention vote this year. Unfortunately, only those in southern Indiana get to vote on his retention, but if that includes you, I urge you to vote NO on the question of retaining Judge Baker.

For more info:
http://www.irtl.org/judicial-retention/
http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/ps/retrieve/Narrative/QQ/p-nid/86