Would you test for and terminate a pregnancy because of a disability?

[fhertlein]

First of all guys, this is a matter of opinion thread. No need to throw rocks at eachother. Just because someone thinks it would be better to terminate the pregnancy doesn't mean that they're a bad person, from their point of view it would be less painful for themselves and those around them and most importantly above all else, the child. Cerebral palsy, mental retardation, deformation, no matter what birth defect it is, it will ultimately take away from the experience of life and can lead to some incredibly cruel life events. Then there are others who believe each life is important and who knows? Maybe that child will have a really cool life regardless of their handicap. One experience differs from another and Stephen Hawking is an excellent example of a positive life experience.

It's a tough issue and I don't care who you are but you can't force someone to agree with you. State your opinion and be done with it.

As for what I would do, I would vote yes, there's just too much cruelty out there and there's no telling how bad the defect will be, so why risk my child getting hurt?

I agree, these are opinions, and just because the poster has a different point of view, does not mean folks need to blast each other. Similar to the pro life/choice debate, where both sides think they are correct; or Terry Shaivo and the law suit between the parents and her husband on the right to pull the feeding tube.

In the end it comes down to your own personal view and living with your own conscience. As I stated earlier, life is challenging enough without also having to deal with Down Syndrome, a physical handicap, etc. so I would not have a problem terminating a pregnancy.

I have two kids of my own and it is tough enough raising healthy kids, and I can only imagine the challenge of dealing with a special needs child.

Here is a counter question:

What happens to this special child when the parents are dead and buried?

[fhertlein]

To me and others, terminating the pregnancy implies that a person with a disability has less worth than a person without a disability. To me, it's the ultimate form of discrimination. Do you agree?

It seems weird to think that there are thousands of people with Down Syndrome or some other disability but if some people had it their way, these people wouldn't be here because the pregnancies would have been terminated.

For the people that answered "No." Would you take care of your child and put in the extra effort to raise him? Would you be there for him when he was 40?

Now you are confusing your original post by bringing in discrimination. I did not imply anything about worth, I stated that life is challenging enough without a disability.

When I see any person with a mental handicap or a physical disability that truly makes living harder, I just feel sorry for them, because getting a fair shake is going to be very hard.

I do not look at them and think to myself, "Too bad your parents did not terminate" or "Good thing I'm better than you".

Regarding people having it their way: do you mean to say the actual parents or some uninvolved third party? Third-parties should stay out of it, and no one should tell a prospective parent what they can or can't do when faced with this decision.

[akinkhoo]

i will go liberal on this, the parent should decide.

[Asylum]

Now you are confusing your original post by bringing in discrimination. I did not imply anything about worth, I stated that life is challenging enough without a disability.

When I see any person with a mental handicap or a physical disability that truly makes living harder, I just feel sorry for them, because getting a fair shake is going to be very hard.

I do not look at them and think to myself, "Too bad your parents did not terminate" or "Good thing I'm better than you".

Regarding people having it their way: do you mean to say the actual parents or some uninvolved third party? Third-parties should stay out of it, and no one should tell a prospective parent what they can or can't do when faced with this decision.

If you think the parents should have terminated the pregnancy then aren't you saying "Too bad your parents did not terminate?" Whether you think you are saying it or not, you are. If everyone thought we should terminate those pregnancies then there wouldn't be anyone with a disability. It wouldn't be a bad thing if no one had a disability. It is a bad thing to think no one should have a life if they have a disability because it isn't worth it. Go up to a person with a disability and ask, "Do you wish you had been never been born? Will you terminate your pregnancy if your child would have the same life as you?"

What do you think when you see a person with a disability? Do you just feel sorry for them? I bet they feel sorry for you. They feel sorry because you can't see past the disability and see a person. A person that enjoys the life they have.

How do I make this more clear? There are millions of children living in extreme poverty. They don't have enough food to eat or clothes to cover themselves. There is no chance these kids are going to get out of this poverty. Do you think the parents of those children should have never had them or terminated the pregnancy?

[Langaleer]

It all depends on the disability I guess. In the majority of cases I would say no, I wouldnt terminate; however if the disability would cause the child to have a life that wasnt worth living (pain, suffering etc) I would consider termination as no living creature deserves to suffer.

[ComradeBlack]

I don't think anyone could "guess" what their decision in such a situation would be until they were actually faced with it.

I've never really cared either way about abortion (do it if you want attitude), but a few months ago my gf and I though she might be pregnant and I instantly realized that abortion just wasn't an option.

I just couldn't do that to something I created.

Maybe I would decide to if I discovered that the child was going to have a severe disability, but I wouldn't know if I could make that decision until it was upon me.

[fhertlein]

If you think the parents should have terminated the pregnancy then aren't you saying "Too bad your parents did not terminate?" Whether you think you are saying it or not, you are. If everyone thought we should terminate those pregnancies then there wouldn't be anyone with a disability. It wouldn't be a bad thing if no one had a disability. It is a bad thing to think no one should have a life if they have a disability because it isn't worth it. Go up to a person with a disability and ask, "Do you wish you had been never been born? Will you terminate your pregnancy if your child would have the same life as you?"

What do you think when you see a person with a disability? Do you just feel sorry for them? I bet they feel sorry for you. They feel sorry because you can't see past the disability and see a person. A person that enjoys the life they have.

How do I make this more clear? There are millions of children living in extreme poverty. They don't have enough food to eat or clothes to cover themselves. There is no chance these kids are going to get out of this poverty. Do you think the parents of those children should have never had them or terminated the pregnancy?

The question is whether or not I would terminate a pregnancy, not should you terminate the pregnancy. Where did I say other people should have terminated?

Let me see... I remember, a friend who died because he developed MS... a friend who died from polio... a friend who died in a car wreck with clubbed feet and a gimped hand... I hope you get the picture.

How did this discussion go from terminating a pregnancy because of Downs Syndrome, etc. to one about kids living in poverty and whether the poor parents should have aborted?

[Asylum]

The question is whether or not I would terminate a pregnancy, not should you terminate the pregnancy. Where did I say other people should have terminated?

I assume if a person would terminate the pregnancy himself, he feels the pregnancies should be terminated in general. If I am wrong to assume that, please correct me. I was using the ideology that there are only two sides to choose from, terminating or not terminating for all cases.

How did this discussion go from terminating a pregnancy because of Downs Syndrome, etc. to one about kids living in poverty and whether the poor parents should have aborted?

My emotions may have gotten the better of me and led my astray from the original topic. I apologize. I wasn't just talking about Down Syndrome but disabilities in general.

I was going to use the comparison of children in poverty not being able to achieve their life goals or even have a decent standard of living to those with disabilities in developed in countries.

[fhertlein]

I do not believe that strangers should have any say in what people should or should not do. I do not look at parents with disabled children and think they should have aborted the pregnancy.

Personal, soul searching questions do not and should not be influenced by outside forces, unless the individual has opened themselves up to outside opinions, i.e. pastor/priest/councilor, etc. Even then, the decision still has to be made by the person and they will have to live with the decision.

Now if you want to muddy the waters... If a person having a disabled child, requires me and the fellow tax payers to foot the bill, should a person still have a right to decide the fate?

[OHP]

I know it sounds like I cannot be bothered with the responsibilty of looking after a Handicapped child but I think I would opt for the test only as long as my missus agrees too because even If we decided to parent a disabled child she or he wouldnt have the quality of life if she or he was a fully abled child.

but we would look after the child as if she or he was a normal child as much as possible given what dissability is.

but theres different levels of dissbility some not as bad as others some of which can be treated and others that are just upsettingly bad. like major deformaty <but then even the childs mind would be normal just the body thats disabled/deformed so its hard to say who dies and who lives based on the rules given.