Do you think that women who knowingly give birth to severely handicapped children have a touch of Munchhausen?

Question

I mean, if the doctor says to her..."Your child will have a very poor quality of life and I recommend terminating the pregnancy."...and she insists on having the baby, doesn't that seem selfish and selfserving. Does she go through with it for the attention it will bring her? I just don't understand why a women would put a child through having a horrible, miserable, more difficult than normal life if it could be avoided.
The Tyra Banks show today is what made me think about this. A girl on there gave birth to siamese twins, joined at the head, after her doctor suggestion that she terminate the pregnancy. It just seemed like she wanted the attention. I thought to myself..."what an idiot!". Why the heck would someone do that?
Go ahead tell me what you think....even you crazy pro-lifers.
.....And, I really do not care if my own mother had aborted me. That's a stupid stance in my opinion.

Answer 1

This is usually a matter of family values. I was taught that any child is a 'gift from God' and that he/she might be the one to find World Peace or Cure Cancer.

Objections were always met with examples like Stephen Hawking, who is brilliant but locked inside a handicapped body, or the cruelty of the Nazis, who went all-out with eugenics by killing anyone who was old, sick, retarded, mentally ill, disabled, gay, Polish, Jewish, or just stupid.

I just say "to each his own" but I do not begrudge those that decide to rear a handicapped child instead of aborting it. In my experience, over-achieving children as just as much work as sickly or handicapped kids, so there's no one answer for this.

Answer 2

you can't tell what quality of life a child will have before it's born and even then it can take years to see how a child (normal or otherwise) will grow up to be. some of the best people I know are handicapped. If a woman is to have freedom to terminate a pregnancy for whatever reason, she should also have the right to carry the baby to term, even if the baby will have a handicap. the mother will also have a burden caring for the child, but sometimes it's worth it.

Answer 3

I can see why you believe what you believe, but I have a differnt opinion. God put that baby there for a reason and on this Earth for a reason, and it doesn't matter what kind of lifestyle it will have because if God didn't know what was right, then why would he put the baby there in the first place? It would be horrible to have a kid like that, but still that baby is a human being-and I'm sure you would care if you were not alive.

Answer 4

My sister had a doctor tell her that she had rubella and that she would give birth to a severely disabled child if she continued with the pregnancy. She ignored him and know what? Her daughter is now 27 years old and has no medical problems what-so-ever. Know why? The doctor made a mistake and it was a flu going around that made it seem that the mother was carrying rubella when she was not. Now, I wonder how many kids were aborted due to that.

Answer 5

I don't agree with you at all. I think that NOBODY can tell you how that child will live. Every child is a blessing and why would you kill one of your children and not another? Because it will be harder to raise? I know of people that were told something would be wrong with their child when it was born and they turn out to have perfect, healthy babies. What happens if those people had terminated the pregnancy? None of the tests they perform are 100% so why not give it a chance??? I don't know of a single person who is mentally or physically challenged that says "wow, I wish my mom would have taken the easy way out". Come on now... grow up!!

Answer 6

I think god has a plan for everyone. Even those who are handicap. You never know what they can do, you might be surpise at what they are able to do. I was always told as a child that " God don't put more on you then you can bear" I really believe that with all of my heart. He knows what he is doing. Everyone is put here for a reason we just don't what it is. And that goes for Children that are handicap. I believe they can teach us more that we can teach them. My boyfriend has a son that has special needs and he is teaches us that life is not promise to us. And just enjoy what time you have with that person.

Answer 7

Who is to say what qualifies for "a life worth living?" Maybe you say a trisomy 18 baby should be aborted...well..maybe someone else thinks a down syndrome baby should be aborted, and maybe someone else would think a baby with a club foot should be aborted too. Just because the baby may have problems, who has the right to decide if their problems disqualify them from living? My middle son was born with hypospadius. ( read up on it if you don't know what it is). He also has asthma, allergies, and some other health problems. He is also the happiest, sweetest boy ever! He has the sweetest heart and is happy and loves his life. His "health issues" are a part of who he is!!!
I don't believe that it is up to us to decide who should live and who should die. I feel for parents who are pregnant with a baby who has no chance for living long, but I would think it would be better for that baby to die in their mommy's arms with love and caring than to be ripped to pieces and die in pain!! I have enough love, I would want my baby to die in peace with love and caring.

Answer 8

I dont' think anybody in that position has a baby for attention!! A lifetime of caring for your child, even when you're too old to care for yourself?? Day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute, of constant care for a child like that. It's a burden and it's a sentence of an imprisoned life where your whole life revolves around that child.
Those people think that human life is sacred, starting at conception and they made that life so they will take responsibility for that child, deformed, retarded, disabled or not against killing it.

Answer 9

in that circumstance of a severely disabled child I would abort, no question. It is not fair on me and certianly not fair on the poor child. To the people who say "its still a life" so what!! it s quality would be appalling. Put yourselfs in the childs shoes,, would u like to live all your long life not being able to have a relationship, not being able to have children, not being able to do normal things like eat and go to the toilet unaided? to just have a life is just not good enough. it is selfish of the parents to allow it to be born just to appease the guilt they would feel by having an abortion... that is NOT best for the child, it is whats best for THEM, and that is selfish!

Answer 10

Your entire question boils down to one very basic thing.That is :a difference of opinion.If you were to ask different people this question,you will inevitably receive different answers and perspectives.Personally I tend to side with you,however I would be severely ignorant if I werent to acknowledge the fact that I never faced a situation like the one you referenced in your question,and if I ever do face such a situation maybe my whole position would change.One never knows until one stands in those shoes.