Is aborting a foetus because it may have Downs Syndrome the right thing to do?
Answer:
I do not belive so. I believe that every baby is born perfectly. Eugenics are always, always wrong, who are we to judge who may live and who may die.
I want neither to judge nor to be judged. I would honestly change the law if I could. I believe that you should not force a woman to carry a baby to term. But aborting because of disease or defect is just so wrong.
why would a child with Downs Syndrome be any different than a "normal" child?
yes it is
depends if you want a healthy baby
It's your call. Your beliefs are the only ones you should think about. A bunch of people will tell you no, but ultimately it's up to you.
Well, I would never test for Downs because you so often get false positives. However, I don't think I am strong enough to raise a Downs Syndrome child. I'd likely give it up for adoption (I say that now but I'd probably look into his/her eyes and fall in love).
There is a little girl who lives down the hall from me that has down syndrome and she is the cutest three year old I have ever seen. She is considerate and smart and extremely funny. I think one would just need a lot of patience and love but is that any different from a normal born baby.
Yes, if the person doesn't feel they can take care of, or properly love a child with Downs Syndrome.
No! Of course not. It's still a child. He/she can't help how they turn out.
I had a friend who was told to abort her baby. The doctor said it had downs syndrome. She was a very strong Catholic and said no. It turned out she had a very healthy baby boy.
That is just to hard to answer. It would have to depend on the situation I was in (if I was rich or poor, married or single, mentally stable or not etc.)
No it is not the right thing to do!!
My daughter is mentally retarded and she is a beautiful child.
There are all kinds of support groups.
My daughter has a bus service that take her to school and she is on the Honor Roll and has perfect attendance.
She loves to go to school.
She learns a little slower that others but she can learn!!!
NO, my cousin had Downs Syndrome and was just fine. He lived until he was 44 and was very clever. He just didn't think the same way we "normal" people do. His brother-in-law would build bird houses, his sister would paint them, and he would sell them and keep the money, tell me he wasn't the smart one.
Aborting the fetus because it MAY have Downs Syndrome is just another form of euthanasia, and euthanasia is just plain wrong. Especially if it turns out that the fetus didn't have Downs Syndorme, you never know UNTIL the baby is born.
i believe so unless the parents know how much they are about 2 take on and have serious talks about if they can handle it etc
its a big thing having to cope with a normal child and the effort and time ud have to give that child is another big facter, not to mention in todays society the child would be picked on bullied just for being different so i do agree if thats the descision made between the parents
Regardless of whatever religious beliefs people hold. I personally
feel it is a very private matter. And even though abortion is not
a pleasant thought, or I'm sure even to go through, It is a womans body. No one owns your body. Except God. And that
decision would have to be taken up with him alone. There are so
many normal children who can't get adopted.and a Down's
Baby would be harder to find a home for, if the mother delivered
it, and didn't want it, or couldn't take care of it for some reason.
It's so easy to judge other people..And it is not for us to judge
people who are in a difficult situation.
To be entirely honest, I am offended by this question.
That is very shallow of you to ask.
My brother is Down Syndrome and although there are alot of hardships that come with it (especially with my mom being a single parent and having three kids) my brother is the best blessing in my life. He blesses everyone around him.
he brings so much good to my life and the lifes of so many others. He is a gift from God and i am thankful for him. If i had a downsyndrome child i would love it just like any other child.
aborting a child either way is a horrible thing, but that is terrible that you would abort a beautiful gift from God!
I'm going to pray for you. You need it, if these thoughts have crossed your mind.
Foetus or fetus I would definetly abort if it had downs syndrome. Everyone says oh how cute and they deserve a chance in life to live but the parents grow old and no longer can care for the child now a huge adult child that still needs care and ends up in some institution. Life is hard enough as it is without trying to grow up with problems like that and I am not talking about problems for the parents I am talking about for the child. No one really knows what is going on in that childs head. They may seem happy with the life they have been dealt but no one really knows what might be going thru thier minds. If there is a chance to avoid bringing a baby into this world with problems I say avoid it. I know if I would of been born with a problem like that I would of rather not been born.
Its not a very nice subject for a hypothetical question.
I can speak from experience on this. But ours had "Edwards syndrome" (far worse)
The truth is there is no right or wrong answer to this. Its up to the parents involved to make the correct decision form them. Each answer has its own consequences.
We made the decision to abort and I do think it was the best of a bad set of choices. Its only later on when you have other children and enjoy their love that the guilt sets in. Its hard thing to live with as I am sure any parent can tell you. I still think under the circumstances it was ther correct thing for us.
I don't wish it on anyone. If any of you are going through this at the moment I wish you the very best. The only advice I can offer is trust your own instincts and own feelings. Everyone will have an opinion to offer. Ignore them all. Trust your gut and go with your heart.
PS: ANYONE WHO OFFERS ADVISE ON THIS SUBJECT HERE WHO DOES NOT SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IS NOT QUALIFIED TO GIVE ADVICE! (judging from some of the comments already posted)
I wouldn't. I believe that if we are "matured" enough to have sex, pay the consequences of becoming pregnant etc.. we should be mature enough to bring up and love a child no matter what disabilities he/she might have. It is the same as asking if it right to abort a baby because of it gender.
No, it is not! You never know what the possibilities for that child might be. What if the child is born "normal"? Even if he/she is born with some form of disabilities, is he/she any less your child, a human? Many people with any form of health issues grow to live happy, normal lives. Even if they pass at an early age, there lives still had purpose and meaning. Maybe even to teach you something.
killing a baby is never the right thing to do - whether it is normal developing or special needs, they are all blessings that should be treated as such
and since I read a certain above comment - just FYI, I do have a special needs child and was given the option of abortion, which I obviously did not do and could not be happier about the choice I made.
I do not agree with aborting a baby because he or she will be born with Down Syndrome. My sister was born with it and she is a very intelligent girl she can function on her own and has gone to school even in regular classes not all special classes,she is now 25 and lives in a home with another girl just like her with 24 hr care for help. All babies should be given a chance at life regardless of what they are born with. I know that if I ever was in this situation I would deal with it regardless of all difficulties.
Think of it this way - would YOU want to go through life with Downs Syndrome?
Personally, I'd rather not get born at all in a case like that. I'll wait for the next life, thanks.
It depends on the person, but if I thought my baby was likely to have a debilitating disease that would ruin its quality of life I would probably opt to not let the child be born.
But then I don't believe it counts as a person until after it comes out, so. It's a matter of individual choice.
it would depend on the pregnant person and their situation. Everyone's situation is different.
Definitely not!
Children with Downs Syndrome are so loving and sweet. They have so much to offer both a family and society.
Sorry but if i knew i was going to be having a baby with down-syndrome then i would have an abortion.
I would not want to put a child through a terrible life like that. I would spare him/her the pain and choose not to have him/her.
It's too wide a question to answer. I'm due in April and the thought of having a Down's baby doesn't phase me at all. I would just hope that it didn't have too many of the complications that CAN be associated with the condition in particular heart difficulties. I don't think there is an argument for abortion on the 'quality of life' issue here because there is no need for it to be compromised as far as the child is concerned. yes they reach milestones later. Yes they can have behavioural problems which require careful handling. SO CAN a 'healthy' foetus due to FAS, inappropriate upbringing, oxygen deprivation during birth, neonatal injury etc.
I work with both 'normal' and special needs children. Believe me, some of the most difficult are those who are biologically normal but who present with behavioural issues etc due to parenting, poor diet etc.
I just can't wait, Downs or not. I'm almost fed up apologising, when I say it may be Downs other people say 'Oh don't say that, hope for the best etc' and I just think. Thanks a lot! I love my baby regardless, just because you value them less if they're Downs then don't assume I woud.
God, trying not to sound like a rant!
If a person doesn't think they could cope with a baby in any situation they it is up to them whether they abort or not. I'm not preaching. It's just not for me.
I have heard of people who have had the test done, found out the baby would have Downs, and then aborted to find the child was healthy after all! What dummies! I'm pregnant, and won't have any tests done just for the sake of knowing whether or not to abort. It's up to the couple, but I think it's horrible.
Yes I think it is, but that is purely my point of view. It would be the right thing for me anyway. I would never say yes it is for everyone because it's such a personal thing. No one has the right to say you should or shouldn't do it, I can't stand these do-gooders that make the 'rules' up. Each to their own and let them be, whatever decision they make.
In the olden days before Patriot rule, women would let their imperfect babies die. It's your body, your decision. It's your life, but it's our society. Find out which side the bad genes come from and if it's you don't conceive again. If it's him seek different genetic material. Then you don't have to repeat the mistake.
This is just a moral minefield,
I would say that its not right or wrong, its a very personal decision only to be taken by the expectant couple under advice from their doctors, counsellors etc.
Its very well for people to say "no have the baby and have it adopted" but not only is that very hard on the biological mother (to go through pregnancy and birth - not easy - and then hand the baby over to strangers and never see it again), but in honesty how many people choose to adopt a disabled child? Sadly the majority of people are looking for able bodied children. what is no adoptive parent can be found - will the child spend their life languishing in institutional care?
I can see why a couple may feel they are unable to cope with a downs syndrome child - many downs syndorme children are never able to grow up totally and live independent adult lives (although some are), and I guess the main fear is of having this child utterly dependent on you, not just for the next 18 years but for life.
And then what happens when you die? Who looks after the child then if you are not rich enough to pay for excellent private care? If you are an older couple already when you fall pregnant - late 30s etc - this must be a real worry.
I would say that this is one of those occasions when the religious moralists should keep their views to themselves and allow the couple concerned to make an informed choice. Most of these people who like to shout about "baby murder" have either never been in the situation or are much younger, better off etc and would be more able to care for a disabled child than some couples are. Its not really up to them to tell other people what to do.
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