if you knew your child was going to be born with severe disabilities would you terminate the pregnancy?

Answer 1

Yeah i would. I don't care about the circumstances some people have described because whatever the disability is, at the end of the day its still a natural fault and the kid's gonna get bullied no matter what. I'd love him/her just the same, but there's people out there that wouldn't see it that way, and i wouldn't wanna subject my kid to that, especially considering they'd probably turn around and blame me for it. =/

Answer 2

I don't think any of us truly know the answer to this question until we are put in the real situation of trying to make that choice.

It would depend on what disability it was and the prognosis for the child in the long term. For example, children with Down Syndrome are living longer and more fulfilling lives and in this case I would feel I could carry the pregnancy to full term.

However, if a disability was so severe that neither the child or myself would have any quality of life I would choose to terminate it. In this case, there are two people who would then, lead rather unhappy and unfulfiling lives. Three including the child's father.

Both myself and my partner are pro choice and although there would be many emotions involved if I ended such a pregnancy, we would both know it was for the best.

Answer 3

Well, there's an argument for not "knowing" ahead of time, isn't there? It was recommended that I have a AFP test and an amniocentesis because I was an "older" mom-to-be (age 34), but I refused to undergo the procedures. The false positive rates on these tests, as well as the risks for the amnio outweighed any benefit that I could see in having them. Why go through months of worrying about what might be? I believe strongly in the sanctity of life, and was prepared to love and care for whatever child God gave me (with or without disabilities), so I saw no reason to subject myself to a test that could only create stress and uncertainty.
You see, you can't "know" how your child is going to be before it is born--the doctors can surmise and predict, but not with any degree of certainty. There are many disabilities which they can't predict, so even if the tests came back fine, you still might give birth to a baby with problems, or a baby that would contract a disease or suffer a severe injury weeks, months, or years down the road--there are no guarantees in life. Unless you are ready to unconditionally love and take care of a helpless child and face all the known and unknown risks that parenting entails, then don't get pregnant--there are gillion different ways of encountering adversity, disappointment, and heartbreak along the way while raising a child, and no way to prevent them all; it comes with the territory.
Knowing everything about you that your parents know now, would they have still chosen to bring you into the world? Hopefully, you have a loving family and that answer would be yes, but even if their answer weren't so positive, would you really prefer to not have the choice to be born?

Answer 4

I have been in this situation, when I was told my daughter would probably be born with Down's. I didn't consider a termination, because I don't think Down's is a reason to terminate.
I have to say though that I was very protective of my baby, while I was carrying her. I would like to think though, that if my child was so severly disabled, that I would do nothing to prolong the pain by prolonging her life with artificial aids. But saying that, it is hard to tell how you will react unless you are in this situation.
I know three women, who knew their baby was going to die on birth.. Two had a termination, while one carried it full term. Those poor women - you could see their babies kicking in their stomachs, being kept alive by the mother's bodies. And all were born with severe disabilities. Not one would have survived.

Answer 5

I think the only truthful answer can be until yr in the position then you would make the decision with expert help from the medics.
It is easy to say now if you are not actually in that position what you would or would not do.
For: Because of the way in general Society treats people with disabilities. What quality of life would they enjoy.
Against: Do I have the right?

Fortunately, I have not found myself in that position yet. But my heart goes out to people who have to make a very, very difficult decision.

Answer 6

First reaction is to say I wouldn't as I am anti abortion However it's easy to protest etc when yourself of a loved one has not been in the position. Having watched films of a happy foetus in the womb and seeing the abortion really upsets me. My problem would be that so many times parents have been told there are disabilities and a healthy baby has been born. I suppose my answer to you therefore is a bit divided as sitting here I feel my principals wouldn't let me abort and if a special needs baby was born it would be loved and cherished by myself and family. Again who am I to condem, not having had to make the decision?

Answer 7

That is a very wide reaching question, it really depends on the disability, Cerebral Palsy for example I would have to say no because it is the body not the mind that is incapacitated I know of children with this illness and they are wonderful - truly gifted in areas of computers and maths etc., only their body inhibits them. My sister-in-law, both her brother and sister are downs syndrome and they are wonderful people - so, no again.
I think only if the child's life would be filled with severe pain and torment would I consider it, but hopefully I will never be faced with such a predicament.
Thank you for a good question.

Answer 8

this sounds callous but yes I have seen at first hand what the consequences are of not, terminating if the situation is irreversible, the parents of the child are under great strain for the rest of either their lives, or the child in question.its an awful decision to make and must undeniably be taken under the strongest medical advice possible

Answer 9

No, no, and no. I would never terminate my child's life just because of a disability. The child deserves to live no matter what the situation is and no matter if the child is pre-mature. The child was conceived so let the child live.

Pro-Life!

Answer 10

I have been in that position and believe me it is a very hard thing to do, it's all well and good saying what you would do ,but faced with the choice in real life it is not easy,look at my answer to this question and even now I couldn't say what I would do. This taught me to never judge others.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnYzuKsPv7rUUYCl1XyDadpJBgx.;_ylv=3?qid=20070612014119AAzRAv7

edit: This was confirmed after tests were done, I didn't want anyone to go through this and maybe prevent it happening again to someone else.