Suppose it's hereditary--is it ethical to have children knowing that they could possible suffer intense mental anguish throughout their lives? Also, wouldn't it be unethical to expose a child to the stressful and confusing environment that goes along with a parent having a mental illness?
2006-11-28 05:22:17 · 25 answers · asked by Nipivy 4 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Well... with a vague diagnosis such as "mental illness" that is difficult to answer. A good portion of mental illnesses are not hereditary. It would depend on the surroundings, degree of illness, etc... Very difficult question to answer with a "yes" or a "no." I would need to hear much more detail to even form an opinion on it. Very intriguing question....wish I knew more about your situation.
2006-11-28 05:28:32 · answer #1 · answered by Scott M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! Not all mental illnesses, states or conditions end in "stressfull or confusing" environments for children.
But the pharmaceutical companies believe the same way most people do on the subject... Ever stop to consider why ALL anti depressants have sexual side effects? yes... ALL!
That is an unfair generalization. People with some mental illnesses are ill, not ignorant.
Ignorant people cause abusive enviornments... and not all stupid people are mentally ill and not all mentally ill are stupid!
In the case of severe schitzophrenia where it would be both foolish and ill advised... they usually can't have sex unless it is against their will so what does that tell you?
Children are born from sex... If you have the faculties to have sex you can have children as a result... It may not be fair genetically but everything is a choice in the end... including getting treatment.
What is fair? There is only a small margin of humanity that SHOULD actually have children. Doesn't stop the pedophiles, the poor, the unpopular, the stupid, the rednecks, the drug addicts, the racists... Why exclude the mentally ill from the gene pool?
Hitler was into selective breeding too... Nuff said?
If people would sit back and realize that life is...even against all of our best attempts at controlling it and shaping it against its grain...then you would realize that without many many people that suffered and even died tragically as a result of mental illnesses...life would be a lot less interesting.
There would be no Plath, no Sexton, No Lowell, no Hemingway, no shakespeare... No Plato, no Kerouak, no Joplin, No Hendrix, No Brian Wilson... to name a very, very few...
I wouldn't want to live in a world less such influences and I am far more afraid of anyone who would...
2006-11-28 05:41:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What mental illnesses are hereditary? I don't know of any. If you mean disorders such as Schizophrenia then no I do not condone. But, if a woman has a mental illness which makes her illcapable of raising a child, then no she should not have children. But, if she has been evaluated by a psychiatrist on her condition and it's clear she is able to raise a child, why not? If the child has a possibility of being mentally unstable there are often many treatments and emotional therapies for these types of disorders. But, if there is such a hereditary mental illness that could be passed onto a child through their genetics which will cause the child to live a very unhappy life, then maybe that woman should consider adoption instead.
2006-11-28 05:26:50 · answer #3 · answered by DiVenanzo™ 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
everyone has the right to have children. i think people with severe mental illness aren't in any anguish because they don't have a sense of reality. and if the illness isn't severe then it should be treatable. in addition to medications for mental illnesses there is something called therapy that can help both the parent and the child. and where is the other parent? do they both have a mental illness? if not then whats the big deal the other parent can support the child through it all.
2006-11-28 05:27:28 · answer #4 · answered by Jess 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone has the God given right to procreate even those affected with mental illness. It depends on the severity of the mental illness and whether or not the parent will be fit to care for the child as best as possible. With today's technology it is almost impossible not to detect some sort of heredity concerns from professionals about parents with mental illness being able to procreate and rear a child.
2006-11-28 05:28:46 · answer #5 · answered by papabeartex 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ethics has little to do with mental illness, by definition Mental illness disrupts the ability of one to make "rational" decisions.
As a MH Practioner, I observe varying degrees of mental illness do often make it difficult for people to build and maintain relationship. Spousal, child, parent relationship happen. I've known some "clients" with raging schizophrenia that raise children, Are the kids effected? Yes, can a schizophrenic be nurturing? For the most part it is difficult. Many children raised by mentally ill people manefest attachment disorders due to poor nurturing by the parent.
Is it unethical? Geez Wally, I don't believe someone in the depths of a mental illness has the ability to think about the ethics of sexual activity and it's outcome. They truly live in the moment. (with the voices).
I've seen people that are being treated for major mental illnesses as well that have overcome many things as parents to raise happy, healthy and adjusted children. So who am I to give them the read of Ethics 101?
2006-11-28 06:20:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The question is would you act appropriately if you had a mental illness in order to take the necessary precautions to prevent passing on a hereditary illness.
From talking to people who have had serious mental conditions some of them stop taking their medications because they have a decreased awareness of their own illness. That is their illness is not perceived to be an illness by them it is just a normal part of life.
If I were mentally ill....
I would say that if I was cognitively aware and capable of making responsible decisions I would choose not to pass on a debilitating illness.
2006-11-28 05:31:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have mental illnesses and I have 2 children. I don't think it's unethical at all. My illnesses are under control with medication. Are you trying to say that people with mental illnesses shouldn't lead happy and fulfilling lives?
A message to holdyourhorses:even though we have mental illnesses doesn't make us completely insane. We can still read, write, have good judgment, even marry people without illnesses. And I bet we all give better answers than you do.
2006-11-28 06:23:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dahling, it's common knowledge that children cause mental illness therefore the question is moot.
Well I thought it was funny! Okay serious answer: my parents both have mental illnesses. Okay my pop has passed away but anyway, they had me and then they hit rock bottom and life went down the shitter. Oops, can I say shitter? Anyway, I'm prone to depression although I don't know to extent you are applying the term mental illness. I have 3 kids. They do all right. Unless you count that incident with the air freshener....
2006-11-28 05:29:09 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At one time Epilepsy had a stigma to, well I am epileptic but before I was diagnosed I had already had my 3 children. None of them have the illness, they did not find my condition stressful infact they all knew how to deal with me should I have a seizure.
epilepsy lives with ME not the other way round, infact I have been clear for 18 months. Me being epileptic made my children not to take life for granted, as epilepsy and mental illness can happen to anyone at anytime .
2006-11-28 08:00:43 · answer #10 · answered by poetrygirl on line 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋