Tuesday, 02 September 2008
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Morning Chat: Do Fetal Abnormalities Justify Abortion?
by Nurse Jenna
Last week the news was abuzz with the announcement of John McCain’s Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska. Right to Life advocates applauded her decision to have her now 4 month old son, despite the prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome. She stated there was never any hesitation that she would carry her baby to term even though the condition had been detected within the legal time frame to abort the pregnancy.Though I am pro-choice, I do find it refreshing that someone (especially someone in politics) practices what they preach. More times than not this is not the case, as we saw with Elliot Spitzer who prosecuted prostitutes, but then he himself was caught spending exorbitant amounts of money on an escort. This is just one of many such examples of political pretense. People are entitled to their beliefs in this country, but nothing angers me more than a hypocrite. Sarah Palin, at least by all accounts, has made life choices consistent with her political rhetoric.
I digress a bit from my planned topic—a bit of information about how Down Syndrome and other potential genetic anomalies are diagnosed and then the difficult decisions parents must make about whether or not to continue a pregnancy. An amniocentesis can be performed for many reasons, one of which is to check for fetal abnormalities. The procedure involves inserting a needle through the abdomen, into the uterus and amniotic sac under ultrasound guidance. A sample of the amniotic fluid is drawn up through the needle and used to check fetal cells that can indicate neural tube defects or chromosomal anomalies, such as Down syndrome. This is usually done between 16 and 18 weeks gestation.
If the fetus shows an abnormality, the critical decision must be made whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy. It is a difficult decision— if continued, the quality of life of both the child and the family can be severely compromised. Though for many, terminating a pregnancy may clash with moral or religious values, regardless of the circumstance.
Do you think a fetal abnormality is a justifiable reason to abort a pregnancy? If you are pro-life, would you want to know ahead of time if your baby was going to have any medical or developmental conditions?
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Comments (288)
It's never okay to end your baby's life. That little baby WANTS to live.
I am pro-life, but I do honestly think if there is something wrong with the baby in the first trimester where the baby will live a life of misery, the mother and father should have the right to an abortion justifiably. I do commend Sarah Palin for having her baby with the knowledge he would have Down's Syndrome. My daughter's father had gotten his other babay's mother pregnant before and the baby had a tumor on it's head. They aborted the baby knowing that information just so that baby wouldn't live a miserable life and so it wouldn't suffer through surgery and possibly braindamage for the short time it was expected to live.
This is such a hard topic. I'm not either prolife or prochoice. I think a baby is a gift of life. If you are ready to lay down you are ready to take care of a baby (or at least you should be). However, I do understand how the topic of abortion could come up if the child is going to live a life of misery. Here is my problem....
My best friends brother and his wife have 5 kids. The doctors told them that the 5th was going to have down syndrome. She is now a completely healthy 10 year old who is in the top of her class. I know tests are very acurate but I would never be able to deal with the fact that my terminated pregnancy could have been a mistake.
Regardless of my personal views, each situation is different. To each their own (as long as you are not using it as birth control).
As far as I'm concerned: never. I don't think anything short of putting the mother in danger justifies an abortion.
Absolutely not! For one thing, they simply don't ever know for sure. My daughter, who is in training to be a midwife, recently had a patient whose child showed a positive test for dwarfism, with many accompanying difficulties. Of course, the couple was given the option to abort, and are now SO thankful that they didn't. The baby was born last week and is NOT a dwarf. Though she does have a bone disease, the tests that they did in utero were simply wrong!
Besides that, if God allows a child to be born with some physical or mental challenge, He also gives grace for the family to live with that. And to say that a person lives a miserable life because they are Downs is just ridiculous--some of the very happiest people I have ever known are Downs!
I know a couple who had a child with a severe abnormality that resulted in round-the-clock care for the few months that the little girl lived. They knew that she would have this before the birth, but chose to go through it, and both of them say that, though difficult, it was a time of incredible growth for both of them. They would never choose differently if they had it to do over.
No, I don't think anything justifies abortion. We are not God, and cannot make the decision of who is given life.
I am pro-choice (not pro-abortion as those on the right demonize us as). I have no problem with Palin's decision to have a child with Downs syndrome. I think that there is rarely a real reason to end a life, but there is also NO reason to remove someone's right to decide for the alternative. I do think cases of rape justify it. Men will never have any idea what violent acts against women do to the psyche. The punishment is unjust and being punished furthermore with the burden that was the result of some sick a-hole's selfish violent act is certainly not necessary to keep putting the victim through.
you should write something to inform college kids that it's not a good idea to have kids.
my friends get preg. on PURPOSE so they'll recieve fin. aid.
how wrong is that? ! INFORM them plz!!!
I personally dont care if a baby will be born with mental health problems (such as Down Syndrom), it is still murder to have an abortion (atleast in my eyes).
I am so thankful that Mcain elected a pro-life canadite! her story is truely amazing
No, I don't think ANYTHING justifies an abortion. Tests are not always accurate and with technology today so much can be fixed after birth. As far as down syndrome goes, the majority of people with down syndrome live very happy lives. Don't tell me it is because they don't know better or anything like that...because what they know is that they are happy. If the child is a resort of an unwanted pregnancy then the mothers can rest assured there are thousands of families who aren't so fortunate to have kids of their own and will be mroe than happy to take theirs. There's just too much hope for these little lives...a possibility they could survive, be 100% healthy even...and if not then still live a happy and successful life. I just don't believe killing God's blessings is the answer no matter what.
@myfate22@xanga - You say you're not pro-choice, but "to each their own" IS what pro-choice means!! Pro-choice does not mean pro-abortion - it means pro-CHOICE. I'm not picking on you - I just wish people weren't afraid of that label.
I think it's fine if anti-abortion people want to hold Palin up as a model - but what they are really applauding is that she made the right CHOICE! Pro-life means, politically speaking, that you don't trust women and families with that choice.
Abortion is NEVER justifiable. Even the scientific community has agreed that life begins the moment an egg and sperm join. Therefore, killing a fetus at any age is destroying a life. The ONLY time an exception MIGHT be made is when the mother's life is in imminent danger.
That's how I think the law should read.
By the way, amniocentesis CAN be wrong. I've known several women who have tested positive for things wrong with their babies and yet their babies were born perfectly normal.
@MlleBaroque@xanga - Which scientific community are you referring to? Where was that addressed? I'd like to read it.
@DrTiff@xanga - what about the baby? does the baby get a choice? do you think any baby really wants to die?
Abortion is muder, all the time. Amnio is not 100% correct 100% of the time and I would hate to choose to kill my baby knowing that there was even 1% of a chance that they would be healthy. Also just because a baby is born with abnormalities, does not mean it's not going to live a wonderful and full life. Besides, where do we draw the line? If a baby could have Down's, kill it? If a baby has missing limbs, kill it? What if it's missing some toes or fingers? Kill it then too? I mean, life could be a little difficult when you're missing a toe or two. It's just not our place to play God and decide who should be allowed to have a chance at life.
I think it's a much better justification than being too stupid, lazy, or selfish to wear a condom!
@WasabiBek@xanga - Do you think the baby wants to live through hundreds of surgeries to maybe die in the very near future anyway? Do you think the baby would rather live miserably for awhile to end up in heaven anyway? I'm not talking only Down's Syndrome here either. I'm talking serious medical conditions. Down's Syndrome isn't bad at all. I know quite a few people with that.
I am Pro-Life and yes i would want to know. both of my kids were high risk. I almost lost my son because of complications with my pregnancy. I think it is good to know because it gives you time to prepare and study about the condition that your child my have.
@leslieburditt@xanga - why can't we leave it all to faith? Back in the 1800's they had no choice and sometimes test are wrong. I have read many stories about mothers who think there child has a illness and then the baby comes out fine.
I don't think it justifies abortion. The only time I think abortion should ever be considered is when the mother's life is in danger.
I took the non-invasive test during the beginning of my pregnancy to see if anything came up but that for me was just a heads-up sort of thing. I would not have gotten an abortion. I am pro-life, and though the tests can be wrong, I think it is nice to know ahead of time if there might be complications because it gives you time to prepare for it.
NurseJenna, I always love reading your Momaroo posts :) they're always so interesting, insightful, and intelligently written.
As far as this topic goes, the absolute only way I'd choose abortion is if my life was going to be in severe danger from the pregnancy, though if there was a way to minimize the risk I would do it. I don't have children yet but we'll probably have them in 2 or 3 years and nothing would make me want to terminate my pregnancy when I want to have a baby so badly. I'm not very politically minded, so I can empathize with both sides of this issue but I have a feeling my views will change when I actually do have children. Now though I do feel like it would be a terrible dilemma if you knew the delivery of your baby could kill you and you'd be helpless to stop it. That's the only time I think abortion should be used though.
If you believe abortion is ok, then logically it shouldn't matter what the reason or circumstances. If you believe abortion is ending a life (as I do), it shouldn't matter the reason or circumstances, either. To say abortion is wrong but ok in circumstances where the child will have a "hard life" is a frightening line of thinking. If I were pregnant, I wouldn't mind being tested for medical conditions, but only to help me get emotionally and mentally prepared for a baby who might require a special kind of care.
Also - I've known two women this past year who have been told their babies would have Down's Syndrome but neither one did. I don't know if they were told by doctors " a chance" and then they took that as "100%" and passed that along to everyone, but what the heck?? Is this common? Or was that just a coincidence among people in my circle? That's causing women a lot of unnecessary distress...
@DrTiff@xanga - Dr Tiff. I guess that shows how conflicted I am about the subject. Thanks for pointing it out. I didn't even realize how it sounds.
I personally feel abortion is murder. However, I would never treat someone else badly just because they had an abortion. I do not call myself 'prochoice' because I would never encourage a friend to have an abortion. I would object but still be there for that person if they decided to go that route. Such a heated topic, guess I was trying to be too careful in what I wrote.
I had my fifth child at the age of 40. Because of that, I was considered high risk and was asked if I wanted a battery of different tests to make sure my baby was "healthy". My husband and I decided against any and all testing of that kind. We were prepared to love, nurture and care for the baby God gave us. Period.
@WasabiBek@xanga - No, I don't think the baby/fetus/unborn child has a choice. The mother has to make the choice for it. I'm sure you disagree, and I'm really reluctant to get into this argument... but I wanted to answer your question honestly.
A woman does not need a "justifiable" reason if she wants to abort. It's totally her choice, and I don't think anyone has a right to judge. I'm extremely pro-choice, but I do not think I would choose abortion in this situation, although I would like to know in advance so I would be able to make plans to make life as easy and stress free as possible with the child.