Poll: You Discover Your Child Will Be...

[MasterChief892039]

Fourth option - feel too morally corrupt aborting, decide to keep it but taking up smoking/drinking in the hopes that the issue resolves itself.

 

[Jark212]

Abortion I think would be the best course of action, to save the child from a lifetime of torment. And I must pass on my seed, and my child must be able to do the same...

 

[Marter]

I would most likely abort. At such an early stage, it isn't really 'human', at least, not to me. I'd still feel bad, but I wouldn't want them to have to live in this world like that.

 

[TriggerUnhappy]

Ehhh....

I would be sorely tempted to abort it (as early as possible), but being a believer in God and the sanctity of life...Hm. The thing with giving it up for adoption is-would anyone even have her/him? I mean, when people look for a child to adopt, this is the LAST thing they're looking for. It is a heavy burden to raise such a child.

I guess I wouldn't know for sure until something like this actually happened.

I have to ask (surely out of curiosity), why do you find life sacred?
Personally, I believe life itself to be magical and a miracle, but individual lives mean nothing to me.

 

[HTID Raver]

abort, i wouldent want the child to grow up like that its whole life...


... that came out wron i think but you might get what i ment

 

[zHellas]

Abort it without a second breath or though. It would be miserable, and more importantly, I would be miserable.

Actually I don't think it woul-

Abort it without a second breath or though. It would be miserable

Actually, it probably wouldn't be upset at all, since it wouldn't be aware of anything being wrong.

Fuckin' ninja!

 

[Disaster Button]

If it couldn't develop past the mental age of one then I think it would have an incredibly miserable life and it wouldn't be fair to keep it alive, I know that if I were in that situation I would want to be aborted rather than live a perpetually joyless life.

But its hard to put yourself in such a situation as there is a bond that grows between mother and child, usually, that's hard to imagine and take account for.

 

[BoxCutter]

Abortion, willingly putting a person through what people with disabilities have to go through doesn't seem right to me. Thats not saying they cannot lead a fulfilling life but I imagine its quite a bit more difficult and distressing. Damn this is a heavy thread.

 

[Levitas1234]

Force it to work as a slave in my turbine turning camp that generates clean renewable energy.

 

[Hollock]

Abort it, at this point it's brain, spinal cord, and nerves are still being developed, It would be miserable.

 

[Wadders]

it would probably be a short joyless existence for the child.

I don't understand where this reasoning comes from. In most Western countries, the mentally handicapped don't live extremely shorter lives, about 10 years younger. That's skewed by mental retardation's co-morbidity with other diseases that shorten the lifespan. If the child had no other health complications, there's no reason to believe it wouldn't live in its 70s.

This is one of the very problems with raising such a handicapped person. As in Mice and Men, a fully grown adult with the mental age of a toddler can be very problematic.

OK so maybe it might live for a decent amount of time, but that's still no reason to justify putting it through a life that it barely understands or appreciates, which as you said, coule become very problematic for all involved.

 

[Loonerinoes]

I'd give it up for adoption.

I wish I could spare the time for such a child, but my life plans (and the kind I'd expect from my potential spouse) would probably not leave enough time for me to devote to the attentions such a child would no doubt require. Yet on the other hand, while an abortion may indeed be a valid option, I can't help but think - what if the doctor could be wrong. What if this child manages to overcome the disorder, not in huge ways but small incremental ones that could bring great joy to whomever would want to see it grow and would have the time and patience to do so? What if the doctors observing this child's progress could come across helpful medical data that would in the future help prevent this kind of retardation from occuring to other children? Not to mention the fact that sure - this child would no doubt not experience life as most or any of us do. But you know what? Even when that seems like it's all negative to us, it might not seem as such to such people in the end.

Hence...adoption. Because no matter how sad a story might be, there can always be a silver lining, no matter how impossible it might seem to most. However, in the end I am of course male and if my spouse would not want to go through the labor pains just to give him or her up for adoption, then I would completely understand and an abortion would be the choice then, depending on her feelings moreso than on those of mine.

 

[randomsix]

Aside from the fact that raising such a child would be difficult at the very least, I would never inflict such a life on another potentially rational being.

 

[Panda Mania]

Ehhh....

I would be sorely tempted to abort it (as early as possible), but being a believer in God and the sanctity of life...Hm. The thing with giving it up for adoption is-would anyone even have her/him? I mean, when people look for a child to adopt, this is the LAST thing they're looking for. It is a heavy burden to raise such a child.

I guess I wouldn't know for sure until something like this actually happened.

I have to ask (surely out of curiosity), why do you find life sacred?
Personally, I believe life itself to be magical and a miracle, but individual lives mean nothing to me.

It's because *looks around and whispers* I'm a Christian, who believes that God created life as something to be treasured and valued. Christianity always dictates to think of others, fetuses included. Unfortunately our Bible doesn't provide direct guidance for these current medically ingenious times. But on basic principle, aborting a healthy fetus appears very selfish to Christians. When specific situations arise, such as when the mother's life is threatened, that's when opinions start to vary widely, I guess.

 

[Supernatural Girl]

I would abort. It may seem harsh, but I find it difficult imagining myself having the patience to care for a child with moderate to severe autism, never mind this level of disability.

It would be especially sad if I couldn't have "normal" children and would only produce those with disabilities...

 

[Jnat]

ABORT, ABOOOORT!!!

 

[Grayjack]

Yes. I don't want my child to suffer like that. I would want him/her to grow up and experience a good, long life. Besides, I don't want any kids.

 

[swolf]

Abort it without a second breath or though. It would be miserable, and more importantly, I would be miserable.

Hey, something we agree on. I would abort the child though my wife says she would want to keep it. I could see us compromising with adoption though. I mean...that may seem harsh, especially considering that I have two brothers who are mentally retarded (one's medium and the other has it very light) but I've seen the type of mental retardation which is practically on that "one year old" level. They can't support themselves, can't handle life, can't reason (or understand that stealing, violence, etc are morally wrong because they can't understand morals)...I remember a news story a while back about an autistic guy whose mother insisted on keeping him. Anyways, he grew up, never mentally developed, and became violent. The mother had to spend many evenings in a closet while her son beat and kicked on the door, screaming at her. Well, he eventually killed her.

 

[Girl With One Eye]

In all honesty, I would raise it regardless. I would love any child of mine regardless of any disability or mental issues. I wouldnt be able to bring myself to have it aborted, and theres no way I'd give a child up for abortion.

 

[LordWalter]

(Spawned from a debate with a friend) Let's say, you're expecting a child with your girlfriend (or boyfriend, doesn't matter). However, within a week or two into the pregnancy, you're informed by the doctor that your child will grow up to have severe mental retardation. When I say that, I don't mean kind of slow in a charming Forrest Gump way, I mean they will never mentally develop past the age of a one year old. They will require constant care by you up until the day you die, and even beyond that by others such as relatives, workers at institutions, etc. Now in this position, what would you choose to do with this child?* Would you have it aborted, or perhaps give it up for adoption if you're against that sort of thing, or just choose to raise the child anyways, believing that your child's (and all) life is sacred? Regarding the abortion, there would be no health risks, and it would be within the first trimester.
*Question of thread placed in bold (also assuming your partner would agree with your decision)

Personally, I would choose to have the child aborted. Perhaps that makes me a total monster, but at my age (teenager), I'm still unsure if I would even want a child, and to be trapped with one for my entire life sounds horrifying. Not only that, but I know for a fact that I would be a horrible father and caregiver to any child like that. The loss of freedom from having a kid is something that I could deal with, because it's a commitment to raise your child, watch it learn and grow and eventually leave, thus ending the commitment. (partially, I understand there are still times where they may need help, but the fact is you're not still cleaning out their diapers) However, if your kid was like this, there would be no happiness or pride at watching them grow and develop, because they don't grow up, just grow older, and I view that more as being enslaved than anything else. Not only that, but they would eventually just become a burden to any relatives, for when me and my girlfriend finally die, they will have to foot the bill (or time and personal energy), to care for the kid, enslaving them as well.

I understand that many will view this question (and myself) with contempt, and will question how this could even be an issue. But, I personally find it to be a good question, for it is something a friend and I debated for quite some time, and neither of us are quite sure what we would actually do if placed in this predicament. So, what would you do? (and please elaborate, don't just vote)

Abortion is the most moral choice for both yourself, the fetus, and society as a whole, especially considering this:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19089-24week-fetuses-cannot-feel-pain.html