Poll: Would You Abort?

[jpeyton]

Just curious to see if the ATOT crowd carries more or less the same feelings society does on this topic.

Hypothetical situation:

During the first trimester of a pregnancy in your family, a pre-natal screening shows a positive test for Down's Syndrome. A second (more thorough) screening is done to confirm the positive result with greater than 99% accuracy.

Would your recommendation be to abort the pregnancy? The final decision would obviously be up to the mother, but if you were asked for your opinion, what would it be?

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'd probably abort.

 

[darkxshade]

I'd abort the mother... it's the only way to be sure.

 

[spidey07]

Absolutely. It would be an incredibly difficult and heart wrenching decision, especially the mother...it would tear her to pieces, but I would strongly push for the abort button.

 

[MotF Bane]

Abort.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Yep, I'd abort. Seeing it from the perspective of the kid, I'd rather not be born than be a permanent burden on my family and society, without being able to live a full life. My mom always says that she wouldn't abort because of retardation, but my dad feels so strongly about it he might be able to convince her.

 

[Cheeseplug]

I had a family member with down's syndrome, loved him dearly. I know it is a lot more work to raise someone with this disability, but I personally couldn't do it. I would not blame somebody if that is what they decided to do.

 

[Bateluer]

I'm glad I'm not in this situation.

Interesting that its the mother who makes the final decision and that the father has no legal say though. Perhaps evolution should have led humans to have three genders in order to make a viable democratic family? Need a decision made, all 3 members vote, 2/3 wins.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

Yes.

I wouldn't want my child to grow up being ridiculed for something he could not prevent. It would also tear me apart to see my child struggle so badly with simple tasks.
Some might argue that "at least the child is alive." I think it's a fairly valid argument for healthy children but not in the case of something like Down's.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Yes. People with downs syndrome often live happy lives, but they lack understanding. Better it never know what it is missing.

 

[eits]

i wouldn't abort, but it's not really my choice

 

[TallBill]

I really don't know.

 

[glenn beck]

No

 

[Proprioceptive]

Hard decision, but I"m leaning towards no. It's still a life, and I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be with ending it just like that... but then again, I'd have to talk with the wife about this. And yes... lots of prayer.

 

[nanette1985]

Are the screenings really that accurate these days?

A friend has a Down's kid. He's not a vegetable. You never really know what kind of child you're going to get. And what if the testing was wrong?

 

[Mo0o]

yes

 

[lokiju]

I feel like I'd say yes but it's a very hard choice to come to for me even with this just being a hypothetical question.

 

[Baked]

Abort and try again. If I have the option to eliminate the problem down the road for many years to come, I would definitely pick the easier choice. But that's just me.

 

[Proprioceptive]

Text

This kid is living proof that down syndrome cannot, in my opinion, be a factor in considering an abortion.

 

[MovingTarget]

No - I've known quite a few people with disabilities. Eugenics FAIL.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: darkxshade
I'd abort the mother... it's the only way to be sure.

Take off and nuke the site from orbit?

 

[Alone]

Oh fuck yeah.

 

[darkxshade]

Originally posted by: Proprioceptive
Text

This kid is living proof that down syndrome cannot, in my opinion, be a factor in considering an abortion.

For every one success story, there are probably hundreds if not thousands more that's proof that it should be a factor in considering abortion.

 

[Kadarin]

I'm a guy so it's not my ultimate choice, but my belief would be to abort. I would not want to bring a Down's Syndrome baby into the world.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Proprioceptive
Text

This kid is living proof that down syndrome cannot, in my opinion, be a factor in considering an abortion.

That kid if probably one in a million. I couldn't do it.