Poll: Would you abort a pregnancy if the child would have Down Syndrome?

[Kwaren]

I would abort it if it had any mental of physical defects.

 

[octafish]

First I'd like to say I'm Pro-Choice so I'm not going to tell you what to do.

For me, No. Not for Downs Syndrome, I've known a few people with downs syndrome, and by and large they have been happy people who enjoy life. So raising a kid with Downs Syndrome would not faze me. My wife and I have discussed this and while we haven't actually been faced with the choice we had considered abortion if faced with really life affecting defects like Myelomeningocele or Cystic Fibrosis.

 

[Tibike77]

I'm mildly disgusted at the number of people who are saying yes. My uncle has down syndrome and while he may not perceive things like we do he still has thoughts and emotions.

Any kind of obvious crippling condition -> ABORTION ! No question about it.
You can always (try to) make another (better // less faulty) child later, which otherwise you probably wouldn't have bothered having at all in the first place.

Now ask yourself this : would you rather have your uncle as is, with Downs, or would rather have an ever so slightly younger uncle (or aunt) WITHOUT Downs ?
And no, you can't have both, you have to pick one or the other option.
It is I who would be disgusted if you picked the former instead of the latter.

 

[VincentX3]

Yes, I would.
I would have a long talk about it, but raising my first child? to be retarded and then god knows what problems he might have in the future.
It would add up and be way to much.

 

[MagicMouse]

Yes. Absolutely. Without a second thought.

I know it makes me an evil, evil person but I don't even think of Down's sufferers as human. They're...not right. Defective. Little more than pets or playthings like animals. And like I said, I know that makes me an evil, evil person but my revulsion at the sight of them is deeply personal and not something I can deny.

This.

Also the burden they would put on me and society.

 

[Lexodus]

I'm mildly disgusted at the number of people who are saying yes. My uncle has down syndrome and while he may not perceive things like we do he still has thoughts and emotions. When my grandparents had to send him to a home because they were no longer able to take care of him I remember that a few days later he was crying because he missed them. He's still human. He's still capable of being happy or sad or angry, and even if he can't express himself he still loves his parents and his sister, and they love him. I desperately hope the people here just don't understand what they're talking about or else I fear for the human race.

You find nothing wrong with the fact that your grandparents had to send him to a home because they couldn't take care of him, and he obviously couldn't either?


My answer is yes. Call me cruel, heartless or whatever, I wouldn't subject the people I love nor a child of mine own flesh to that. Everyone suffers to some degree, and that's not something I'd wish on anybody. Go ahead, if you want, but I wouldn't. That is my opinion on the matter, and I'm sticking by it. What really started this thinking was an experience as a kid, growing up next to a kid with such a severe case of Down's and something else that you couldn't make eye contact with him, or he'd flip out. From then on, it's just freaked the shit out of me, same with all such disabilities. And aging. God, I can barely stand to be in a room with old people. They terrify me; they could just be sitting there, and suddenly drop and you wouldn't know, and then you'd think they were asleep and you'd try and wake them up and they'd be cold and the six year old me would start screaming...
Yeah. That happened with my great aunt. To her credit, she was in her nineties and dying of lung cancer, I think, but holy jumping fucking shitballs. And some do just go, without warning!

No, I did not vote entirely because if the womans life is in legitimate danger then you can abort. Other then that abortion after the life-blood starts to flow is murder.

...in your opinion.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

I fear for the human race.

Yipes, it's not like someone can abort your uncle. The mentally impaired make (some) people feel uncomfortable. It's a fact of life. There's no point in putting barriers of guilt in the way of understanding. By the way, this exact question was the subject of an episode of an old hospital drama called St. Elsewhere from 25 years ago. A LOT of the pros and cons people are mentioning were found on this show on network television. It's nothing new. All these people need is a marathon session of Life Goes On.

 

[Cakes]

ITT: People with moderate disabilities aren't human and are incapable of leading normal lives.

 

[Stoic raptor]

Well, if its before the end of the 3rd month, maybe. I probably wouldnt anyway.

 

[Tibike77]

ITT: People with moderate disabilities aren't human and are incapable of leading normal lives.

ITT : people not understanding the rules of the genetic roulette. It's not MAGIC, you know, it's science and statistics.

Why would you want a less-than-average child if you can just spin the wheel again and get a more-than-average one instead about a year or two later ? Is one or two extra years of waiting really worth a lifetime of not so pleasant experiences ?
Also, why not go the "designer baby" variant anyway ? Get a few dozen eggs fertilized, pick the most fit one(s), freeze or dump the rest.

 

[Kenko]

Hell yes I would. Dont want no degenerate in my family tree.

 

[Blitzkreg]

Yes. Absolutely. Without a second thought.

I know it makes me an evil, evil person but I don't even think of Down's sufferers as human. They're...not right. Defective. Little more than pets or playthings like animals. And like I said, I know that makes me an evil, evil person but my revulsion at the sight of them is deeply personal and not something I can deny.

I'm with you brother, it just hurts everyone, theres nothing anyone can gain from this defect...

 

[Lexodus]

All I know is that I wouldn't be able to raise the kid properly.

So all you anti-abortion people can fight over who gets him. What's that? No takers? Aw hell, I thought you were trying to be good people.

Well said. Utter hypocrisy is not good when you're trying to make yourself out as a better person.

 

[Mordwyl]

Fuck that he's my child. Now if it was a chestburster...

Are you bringing up the movie "Aliens" in a serious forum topic?

Yes, yes I am. Especially considering this is a discussion about ending someone's life out of foreknowledge of natural disabilities. The analogy I made was indicating a threat to the mother which may carry severe problems postpartum, both physical and mental. We're not Spartans. Any person in this day and age can find a purpose to function in society and people with Downs are no different.

Honestly I'm quite surprised in a bad way at the majority of the responses casually saying they'd kill their child because of a birth defect. I'd like to imagine how you felt if YOU were in that child's position and your parents made the same decision.

 

[Matt-the-twat]

Wow the amount of people that would abort is kind of shocking. Apart from anything I would say the majority of escapologists are male anyway, and really the woman would have the last say in this scenario anyway (rightly or wrongly). I don't think I would abort, having spent time assisting those with special needs I know that they can be very happy with their lot in life (often more happy than those without such a disability). Happiness for my 'offspring' would be my only real concern in the long run, they do say ignorance is bliss.

 

[Gudrests]

Joke answer: I believe most people should be aborted.... Honestly i hate you all and could do without a WHOLE LOT of you.....*stares at most kids i went to school with* *Growls strangly*

Real answer: To be honest. i dont know. Really i dont think i know anyone with Downs syndrom...and if the one person who do think has it has it....there pretty normal. Besides being well...slow...and off a bit..he's still a functioning person...i guess it all matters on the severity of it...could they survive really