Slippery slope to eugenics?

[itchychick]

There was an article in the paper the other day about a woman in Britain who chose to have a pregnancy terminated because the ultrasound scan showed that the baby would be born with six fingers...

What are your thoughts on this issue?

[Lozicle]

And that was the only thing wrong with it ?!

[itchychick]

Yeah, as far as I know.

[Gobe]

Well I think it is disgusting.  There are many people out there that would be overjoyed to have a baby - period.  I can't realy say on here how I feel about his.  Enraged - to put it politely.

[Wooley]

I think that is outrageous.

I am very anti abortion in any case, but that reason is ridiculous.

Wooley


Added 11 Jan 2006: There are certain circumstances that I think a choice is important. What I can't abide, is people who use termination as a "method of contraception", ie they don't use any form of contraception and then just terminate any resulting child. I think my first response was as a result of knowing (past tense) 3 people like that.

[GuzziHeroV50]

I am pro-abortion for various reasons..so I agree to their right to do that.  I am, however, shocked and disgusted that someone would want a child and yet have it terminated for such a pathetic reason.

What next?  Aborting fetii because they have cleft pallet?  Sheesh!

[itchychick]

I also support the right to choose, but wow, this issue is so multifaceted....

When I was pregnant with my second baby, one of the early blood tests indicated that the baby was at a significantly increased risk for Down's syndrome... I was a wreck, as we already had a healthy baby, and all I could think about was the impact that a severly disabled sibling might have on his life. 

At the same time, I was born with a rare combination of traits with results in an unusual form of anaemia.  In severe cases, children often don't live past their early twenties, with a much reduced quality of life.  In my case, it was not severe like this, but I always wonder, had my parents been aware of this, would they have opted to have any children at all?

Six fingers? Not a good reason.  But who should decide?

[totalfolly]

I am also pro-choice, but if that was the only reason not to have this child I am appalled.  I wonder if there was something else wrong that we don't and never will know about.

We are all imperfect, some imperfections more significant than others.  Six fingers, in the grand scheme of things, is a small issue to my mind.

totalfolly

[joan_of_arc]

I'm pro-choice myself, but termintation based on having an extra finger?  That's a little much, don't you think?

Hey, i could use that extra finger...could come in handy....i might be able to finish projects a bit faster.  And having another finger to flip people off might be fun too.

[Bamawing]

I know someone who was born with six fingers. The sixth wasn't usable... he couldnt' move it, and I can't remember if it even had any bones at all. His parents had it surgically removed when he was a few days old. Result = a small scar on the side of his hand.

My bet is that she didn't want the baby at all, and used the six fingers as an excuse to abort it. I can't belive at all that a woman who wanted a child would abort for such a simple, easily solved reason.

[juliep]

Hi

I think the case you are referring to was about a lady pregnant with a baby who had Ellis-van Creveld syndrome.

Ellis-van Creveld syndrome is the occurrence of chondrodystrophic dwarfism, nail dysplasia, and polydactyly (extra toes and fingers). In addition there may be teeth abnormalities, and sparse, brittle hair. The major cardiovascular defects are present in over 65% of children born with this syndrome. Frequently these children need to be permanantly ventilated and the mortality rate is high.

Don't you really hate sensationalisation of what is a very sad set of circumstances. The scan revealed extra fingers on both hands as well as a huge atrial septal defect but I bet the newspapers left that bit out. What suprises me is how a some people assumed that the newspaper story was accurate - newspapers are notorious for misreporting incidents like this.

I am speaking from experience. I had a termination at 19 weeks when I was diagnosed as having adenocarcinoma. My baby had a severe bowel abnormality and I was already considering termination prior to my diagnosis, as my daughter had been born with a less agressive form of this abnormality and had spent the best part of 2 years in hospital. I suppose the decision was made for me but the time I spent agonising over what to do is beyond description. My heart goes out to this lady, and to all those who face making this choice

julie

[totalfolly]

Julie, thanks for providing additional information on this.  It is indeed appalling how many facts weren't included in the news story!

totalfolly

[joan_of_arc]

Yes, very appalling that they would've left those facts out.  Gives the story a whole new meaning doesn't it.

Shame on the person who reported this.

[itchychick]

I echo TF and Joan.  If indeed that is the case, then it certainly does put a different spin on the story.  I'm sorry you had to go through that, Julie.  As I mentioned in my earlier post, I can in some way relate to the heartache of that kind of decision...

[Bamawing]

Thanks for the extra info, Julie!

I thought something might be missing. Horrable reporting, that. I deserve that reporter's job!

[LOX]

Thanks for clarifying that, Julie.

[Wooley]

Thanks for the clarification Julie.

I am sorry that you had to make such a heart wrenching decision. I can't imagine how hard it was, and I completely support your choice given the circumstances.

I can't believe the reporting in the media sometimes. A lot of it is just completely made up rubbish.

 

Wooley

[Daisey]

Hiya,

I think it is ridiclous  ..no matter what is wrong with the child it is your own flesh and blood..EVERY child is special !!! AND as for the reported..


Daisey

[Wolfspirit]

I feel the same as most on this, It is terrible to abort for such a little thing, I feel every child is special and has the right to life if it can have a good quality of life.I have 2 children and i have also had a miscarriage at 15 weeks 5 years ago,I cannot have anymore children now,and I feel bad that this has happened to a perfectly healthy child.I had pre eclampsia which at 32 weeks I had an eclamptic fit and had an emergency c.section and then kidney dialysis, My son was in the special nursery for 4 weeks,he is now 15 and 5ft 11.With my second pregnancy I had gestational diabetis and polyhydraminos and again another emergency c.section at 36 weeks this time, also during this pregnancy at 18 weeks they thought Sam had Downs syndrome as a result of blood test at 16 weeksI had an amniocentesis and had to wait 3 weeks further for result.Sam was fine, but the worry was horrendous as the thought of loosing him was high after the amniocentesis.If he had DS I would of not had an abortion.I feel that woman is totally selfish she could of put the child up for adoption and it would of had a chance of a good and happy life.

[Bamawing]

Hey Wolfspirit...

Did you read the entire thread? It turns out that there was much more wrong with the child than having extra fingers... he/she had Ellis-van Creveld syndrome. This means problems with major organs, too... heart problems, lung problems... chance of a normal lifestyle was slim to none, and the mortality rate was high.

You are one brave and beautiful lady, willing to bear a DS child. I would like to think that I would, too, but I can't say it with your conviction.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss five years ago.