should parents be allowed to terminate the baby if heavily disabled?

[Is Totally Not Feeblepizza.]

If the child is severely disabled--and I hate abortions as a rule, so I mean, like, severely disabled--then yes, a late trimester abortion would be justified.

As for a post-natal abortion? Hell no. That is disgusting.

[Snowguy716]

A severely disabled fetus that will have no quality of life due to the disability?  Yes.

A girl named "Martha" that went to my high school was one such severely disabled person.  She had to have oxygen because her breathing wasn't good, she was fed through a feeding tube, and there was no evidence that she had any mental capability beyond barely maintaining vital functions like breathing.  She never learned anything... they would basically set her aside during class so she could watch and drool all over herself and never really had any kind of reaction to various stimuli other than the occasional moan.

What the f**k kind of quality of life is that?  Just knowing who she was makes me think the right thing to do would have been to abort her.  As awful as that sounds, I think it is the most compassionate thing that could have been done.

On the other hand, I have a cousin who is "slow" because his mother was in labor too long and they didn't do a c-section to deliver him.  He has a job and lives in a group home and otherwise leads a normal life.

The same goes for children with downs syndrome.  It's a tough life and it's a lot of hardship for the parents... but we have the infrastructure in place to help these people lead meaningful lives.

So.. in a select few cases, yes, abortion should even be encouraged.  But in most cases of disability, no.

[Senator Napoleon]

Atlas Forum just did this to Teddy. Not cool.

[CathKhan]

This isn't Nazi Germany. We don't kill people because they're mentally disabled. [/unwarranted, far right opinion]

[Vermin Supreme]

This isn't Nazi Germany. We don't kill people because they're mentally disabled. [/unwarranted, far right opinion]

Not even to the severe disabled person Snowguy knew in life? I find it that when you are to the point that you couldn't breath/feed yourself, has an 1 IQ, and is more likely to die at very young age, I think to terminate that kid is the right opinion for the parents.

[Diabolical Minds Think Alike]

I support a woman's right to have an abortion up until the third trimester. After that, it's too late. If the child is disabled...I support the choice, though I believe all abortions are immoral and that killing a child is wrong. I still support the right to choose, though.

[CathKhan]

I support a woman's right to have an abortion up until the third trimester. After that, it's too late. If the child is disabled...I support the choice, though I believe all abortions are immoral and that killing a child is wrong. I still support the right to choose, though.

So you think it's killing, but at the same time you think the government shouldn't do anything to stop it?

[Diabolical Minds Think Alike]

I support a woman's right to have an abortion up until the third trimester. After that, it's too late. If the child is disabled...I support the choice, though I believe all abortions are immoral and that killing a child is wrong. I still support the right to choose, though.

So you think it's killing, but at the same time you think the government shouldn't do anything to stop it?

I think the Government should stay out of it, really. It's all within the 10th Amendment, it's a state's right to have legal or illegal Abortion. I don't support Government funding of Abortion, instead I support private donations.

[Χahar]

That's not an actual answer. The question isn't asking whether the federal government should ban that.

[Diabolical Minds Think Alike]

That's not an actual answer. The question isn't asking whether the federal government should ban that.

I was responding to his question.

I voted yes in the poll, though.

[anvi]

I was born totally blind and with a ventricular septal defect (a hole between the two ventricles of the heart).  I was the last of seven children on top of it, with my dad in his mid-50's and my mom in her mid-40's, and I'm sure they didn't expect me (my next-oldest brother had been born a whole four years before me).  They were devoted Catholics, so abortion was out of the question.  I'm very glad to be alive, certainly, and I'm most grateful for everything my parents did for me in the undoubtedly burdensome and trying task of raising me in these circumstances.  But, to be honest, if they had decided to terminate the pregnancy given all of the above conditions, I wouldn't find the decision unreasonable.  My mom and dad had quite enough on their plates without me coming along and adding to their worries.      

[lowtech redneck]

Please tell me that most of the 'yes' answers were from people who didn't read all of the OP....

[Cory]

Voted yes. It's unfortunate that these kinds of things happen but it's ultimately for the best. Think of all the money we would free up by not having to dump it all down the pity drain for these people.

[Senator Snowstalker]

Wait...baby?!?!

Hell no, then.

[Cory]

Well if it's an actual born baby then I guess that's different.

[Jayhawker]

The doctor's told my parents that there was over a 75% chance (I believe) that I'd come out with Down Syndrome, and my parents refused to even take the test. Fortunately, I was born perfectly healthy.

There have been many instances where a miracle has occurred, and a fetus thought to have severe complications came out healthy. I'm a strong no.

[Vote UKIP!]

Right on, Isaac. Right on.