SENSITIVITY WATCH : Everyone’s Business?

This baby talk was no fun. It was an insensitive blast at people with disabilities.

Jane Norris of KFI-AM radio hosted a two-hour talk show last month on whether KCBS-TV anchorwoman Bree Walker should have become pregnant. Walker is expecting her second child, who stands a 50-50 chance of inheriting her rare genetic condition called ectrodactylism, a malformation that causes fused fingers and toes. Walker and her first daughter both have the condition.

“Is it fair to pass along a genetically disfiguring disease to your child?” Norris asked on her call-in show. She continually referred to Walker’s condition as a disease when, in fact, ectrodactylism is a genetically caused disability. Walker and her husband and co-anchor, Jim Lampley, who did not participate in the show, were outraged. And no wonder.

Norris’ tone and approach were demeaning to the disabled and bordered on advocating selective reproduction. When a caller pointed out Walker’s pregnancy was her personal business, Norris snapped, “It’s everybody’s business.” When another caller accused Norris of creating her own tribunal on Walker, she responded, “Do you have a problem about talking about deformities?”

Who has the real problem here? Norris could have conducted a thoughtful discussion on the tough decisions parents face at the prospect of passing on a known genetic problem to their children. Instead she tastelessly exploited a personal situation and needlessly offended people with disabilities--and quite a few other listeners, too.