Immoral to let foetuses with Down's Syndrome be born?

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kensplace said:
Personally I think anyone bringing a child into this world is crazy.
Its a nasty world, and getting worse fast. Why bring someone into a world that is almost certain to be much much worse than it is now in their lifetime?
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Can't work out if that is genuine or tongue in cheek. Anyway, I used to think like that. I still occasionally have pangs if guilt that I brought two lads into the world. The poor feckers are going to grow up in a vastly changing, dangerous and often unpleasant world. Oldest is 4 now and he is a happy lad in a stable and loving environment. Just hope that continues for as long as possible.
 


Kent_Mackem said:
Can't work out if that is genuine or tongue in cheek. Anyway, I used to think like that. I still occasionally have pangs if guilt that I brought two lads into the world. The poor feckers are going to grow up in a vastly changing, dangerous and often unpleasant world. Oldest is 4 now and he is a happy lad in a stable and loving environment. Just hope that continues for as long as possible.
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actually, I have found myself thinking this of late. maybe it's just me getting old and worrying.
 
peachbum said:
Richard Dawkins is tweeting that it is unethical to bring a baby with Down's Syndrome into the world and that if you know you have a baby with it you should abort it and try again.

There will be many who have done this - and many who will continue with their pregnancy.

Didn't get that - just had lessons entitled chemistry, spanish, mathematics etc.
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Richard Dawkins is categorical proof that religion is not the root of all evil.
 
smeg said:
Edwards Syndrome? If yes me and the wife went through the same as she's a carrier. It meant at 16 weeks taking fluid from the placenta to check for chromosome problems, at the risk of causing a miscarriage.
Found out my son isn't a carrier so has broken the chain (I'm told it's very rare) but daughter is a carrier and will have to go through same checks if she gets pregnant (hopefully not anytime soon).
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No it was Trisomy 13. Whatever name that has. Not compatible with life basically.

But yes we were given the choice of the amniotic extraction. Iirc the chance of her dying from that was 1 in 100 and the odds of having the syndrome was also 1 in 100. So we didn't take the chance with the needle.
 
We had the test a few weeks ago. To be honest, I was terrified of the results, not just because of the result itself, but the decision we would have to make.
 
I've now got 2 lovely kids, who are both healthy and happy. One is 3 years old and the other is 1 next month. I love them with all my heart.

Interestingly, had the second one been born with a disability, then I would have had a tough decision to make, not just for me and my wife, but for the eldest, what would his life be like with a lot of our attention turned to the other one. However, had the first one had a disability then I think I would have kept it, and loved it just as much.

Sorry seems a bit rambling, I'm just extremely thankful that I've not had to make such a decision, and agree that it is 100% a personal choice.
 
Bob Fleming said:
No it was Trisomy 13. Whatever name that has. Not compatible with life basically.

But yes we were given the choice of the amniotic extraction. Iirc the chance of her dying from that was 1 in 100 and the odds of having the syndrome was also 1 in 100. So we didn't take the chance with the needle.
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We took the chance with the needle as we'd had 4 miscarriages prior and one tested as having Edwards, went through the whole genetic counselling too after once pregnancy was a mis-misscarriage. Remember going to freemans for an in depth scan to find out although her body was going to the pregnancy the baby wasn't there, which was heatbreaking, it was a pretty dark time for us. After the 4th time the hospital agreed to do fortnightly scans but we did have scares, we even had to sign an agreement the hospital could terminate the pregnancy if found with Edwards or Downs.
 
smeg said:
We took the chance with the needle as we'd had 4 miscarriages prior and one tested as having Edwards, went through the whole genetic counselling too after once pregnancy was a mis-misscarriage. Remember going to freemans for an in depth scan to find out although her body was going to the pregnancy the baby wasn't there, which was heatbreaking, it was a pretty dark time for us. After the 4th time the hospital agreed to do fortnightly scans but we did have scares, we even had to sign an agreement the hospital could terminate the pregnancy if found with Edwards or Downs.
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4 times. Fuck that must have been hard mate.
 
Keawyeds said:
He's the proof that extremism in any form of beliefs make you out to be a solid gold kernt
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With respect, I think you (like many) have that entirely wrong though. Read any of his books and his message is clear. He would be happy to change his mind on any point discussed so long as evidence is produced. This is the complete opposite of the religious fundamentalist view where no amount of evidence will do and the word of god is always true.

Richard Dawkins is a tit for writing his Tweet about abortion. Even if that was his point of view, to which he is entitled, I'd question his motives in writing it. He must have known it would cause controversy and upset.

He may be a tit, but extremist he is not. He puts over his case strongly and many religious followers hate him because he exposes how stupid their arguments are, but he is not a fundamentalist or an extremist.
 
I was really poorly when I was expecting my youngest. They didn't know if it was just my body at fault or if there was something wrong with the baby. They did some scans that were inconclusive and said she could possibly have some form of brain damage. I was offered a late abortion but by that stage it would have been a lethal injection and giving birth to a dead baby. I just couldn't bring myself to go through that.

As it happens I gave birth to a perfect little girl. They did do more brain scans after she was born, but everything was found to be fine. She's currently above average in maths and english at school, so definitely nothing wrong with her brain!

Pleased I went with gut instincts rather than medical advice.

Personal decision though. I have cared for a Down's child in the past and it is hard work. Not everyone has the time or patience needed to care for a child with special needs.
 
Agree with those saying it's a personal decision. Not all patents are equipped to deal with disabilities; and if they feel they cannot care for a Downs child, ending the pregnancy is probably the most merciful thing for all parties.
 
stewart10 said:
I've now got 2 lovely kids, who are both healthy and happy. One is 3 years old and the other is 1 next month. I love them with all my heart.

Interestingly, had the second one been born with a disability, then I would have had a tough decision to make, not just for me and my wife, but for the eldest, what would his life be like with a lot of our attention turned to the other one. However, had the first one had a disability then I think I would have kept it, and loved it just as much.

Sorry seems a bit rambling, I'm just extremely thankful that I've not had to make such a decision, and agree that it is 100% a personal choice.
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Class post.
 
Bob Fleming said:
4 times. Fuck that must have been hard mate.
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It was. My first born who we went through everything with has Austism, celiac disease and an eating disorder but other than that he's perfect and in advanced classes at his school.
My daughter was a smooth pregnancy and is what you'd call "normal", she is ginger but not the kind where they don't have a soul.
 
I think this is the first time I've read a thread on a social issue where I have the most extreme views.

I wouldn't personally want a child with Downs Syndrome. I don't think it would be fair on anyone. I'm pro-choice, obviously.
 
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