What do people think about prenatal screening tests.Where should we stop.?

Question

Today I met a really lovely person with a really great outlook on life. She had spinabifida but doesn't let it stop her enjoying life.Her mother had been caring for her for the last 33 years and you could tell they have a great relationship.
We have prenatal screening for so many things now it would be so tempting not to go through with a pregnancy that might produce a child less than perfect.
My wonderful son (now 11) developed cancer when he was 4.He had chemotherapy and has now been well for 7 years and has every chance of staying well. But I have to admit If I had been told in early pregnancy I was carrying a child with a genetic fault that would lead to cancer I might have concidered not having him and that would have been a huge mistake.

I used to have very clear cut ideas on pre natal testing being the right thing to do and not bringing a child into the world that would be a burden.
But for me I now am begining to wonder if there is a right or wrong. I certainly wouldn't want to be without my"burden"

Please don't think I have posted this question to judge in any way.sometimes tests can avoid a lot of heartache,
I i just think as screening becomes more advanced we need to be careful what we consider to be a problem.
Our society has very exacting standards of perfection

Answer 1

There are so many ways of looking at the issue. The governments and insurance companies would prefer not to have to pay for the needs of people that are born with less that 100% bodies but with 100% minds, yet they're happy to pay for able bodied idiots.

Prenatal tests are great for avoiding a future life full of physical misery and pain, but if someone devised a prenatal test that showed whether the baby would die under the wheels of a truck or by choking on popcorn or stressed out at the head of a multinational conglomerate, the baby would still be born, right?

Modern medicine can now lay before us the facts and leave it to us to decide what we want for our children more than ever before. Thus we have, in some cases, too much information that could rob us of valuable moments with a lovely human being, however short or troubled their life will be. The old saw, its not when you die, it is how much you lived...

Answer 2

I'd like to think that i too would n't go through witha termination if i found out my child had a genetic disease which would severely effect its quality of life. But i can't and nobody can unless there faced with sucha difficult decision, so we can't judge parents who do decide to take sad measures.
We cant also totally ban prenatal tests as they help doctors treat any possible difficulties that may arise in the pregnancy, however this procedure does get abused. Its is totally unethical for parents to abort a pregnancy because the baby is of the wrong gender and sadly this does happen.
Npnetheless prenatal scanning is not a bad thing only when placed in the hands of the wrong people can its use be questioned.

Answer 3

I would not choose abortion for a +autism prescreening test. I believe autistic children have every right to be born as much as anybody else. I had 2 screenings come up positive for down's including soft markers on u/s. We did do the amnio given the low chance of side effects 1:16,000 and for preparation purposes only, abortion would not have been an option I also believe that it is a parents choice. My situation is that I have two sons both high functioning. They are birth order 1 and 2 and it did not stop us from a 3rd, a 4th what stopped us was infertility. I know parents of a low functioning autistic child would have a much different experience. My sons are young 8 and 3. They are very easy to deal with for me. Easier than my non autistic third child. I am dx autistic too dx in 1975. We are still married but as the kids are young that is hardly a measure of future success. Also my husband grew up having a low functioning autistic sister. His parents are still married 40 years. I know the stats are very high for divorce. My parents, my dad is asperger's and they were married for 20 years. My brother also received a PDD.NOS dx at 10. My sons talk, we don't get alone time or have respite care. My kids have smeared feces and screamed for hours on end. I do believe that they will live independently as I, my brother, and my father have. Having an autistic spectrum disorder hardly means we're mentally handicapped, defective, or disabled, in fact mine, my brother and my father have gifted IQ's and all graduated from Ivy League schools and are all mensa members. And all make good money, really good. I agree with Desmeran Kitkat-in my small autistic circle I indeed do have a contact who was absolutely devastated that one of his children is not on the spectrum. He said I feel like I am in mourning, we come from a long line of aspies, this child is mediocre and I have no idea how to help him with preschool homework, I just can't believe it, absolutely devastating. In my small circle of autistic families, they are all still married but the kids are young. 10 is the oldest, then there are 6 others. Most have kids around 6-7.

Answer 4

I think it's a good thing because it may be important for some people. Sure, there are some people who may end a pregnancy because of it...but say you're in older expecting mother and you're child will be ill and need care for longer. That mother may want to terminate the pregnancy because of worries of what would happen once she was gone.

It's a hard issue that each couple would have to decide for themselves...in some cases if you choose to keep the baby it may help you to better prepare for the possible complications that may arise so it wouldn't be a total shock.

Again, it depends on your outlook.

Answer 5

I think if I even knew my child would have downs I would still keep them. If they have special needs, I still made them, so I would never want a termination. I guess it's hard thinking ''why would you want them to go through a hard life''. But I just could never even bring myself to having them terminated. In the end where will it stop, who decides on what is an imperfection? What if people decided they didn't want a baby with a disfigurment on it's face but are perfectly healthy otherwise?

Answer 6

I have a 22yr old daughter with learning difficulties,and when I was pregnant with my son who is now 13yrs old,I was given a test and it came back,saying I should consider a termination as I was what they call( high risk) as my son could die before he was born,or that he could have Edwards syndrome,meaning he would be severely brain dameged,and die within 24hrs of being born,thankfully I had him and he is perfectly healthy,im glad your son is ok,I think the doctors have to make sure they get it right before putting parents through this awful decision.

Answer 7

the reason we had it done is because we did not want to bare the burden of a child with a disability or have a child go through that.Its a truth we all have and its wether or not you can admit to it that can make the differance in your happiness.Dont listen to them....listen to your truth its the only rite way for you...and thats why we are free to be real and free to chose and not free to judge.

Answer 8

Your answer says it all if you had known about your son before had you might have changed your mind but that would be a mistake. So because people could find out I dont think it is worth it.

Answer 9

Most women choose to keep therir child even if something shows up. Also, some things can be cured in the womb.

Answer 10

Prenatal screening tests are offered but many women I know have never taken these tests, I haven't had one done! I'm my eyes, my child will be perfect regardless! when she finally decides to grace me will her presence!