Scans are available during pregnancy that can tell you if your baby is at risk of being down with Down’s Syndrome. Doctors believe that it is a great advantage as it can help prepare parents for the expected health problems at birth, and know that extra care will be necessary. Some people believe that it leads to a greater amount of abortions as people do not “want to deal” with a child with disabilities. They believe it to unethical.
This article is about a parent of a child with Down’s Syndrome. She talks of the challenges other people’s opinions on the subject make. People ask her is she was “tested” during her pregnancy, and she has so poignant words to say on the subject:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101701311.html
This web page has information about Pre-natal Screening and testing and why it should be done, read the sections labeled Preamble, and Screening tests:
http://www.ndsccenter.org/resources/position1.php
This web page has information about pre-natal screening and some of the issues scroll down to the 3rd to last paragraph starting with “The screening tests establish”:
http://www.dreamessays.com/customessays/Critical%20Essays/5371.htm
We agree with the doctors who say that screening can lead to better medical care, and preparedness on the parent’s part. It would help the parents prepare with the financial, emotional, and physical demands that a child with disabilities is liable to bring. However, it does bring some people to make some decisions that we do not agree with. There is also the fact that screenings do not tell you for sure if your child will have the disease so it give you a false positive reading. Health insurance does not cover pre-natal screenings so we would be more inclined to have the screenings performed if they were covered by insurance seeing as they are rather expensive.
Considering the testimonial article and the pro and cons presented, do you think that pre-natal screening is an asset to pregnancy? Should it be required for all pregnancies?
I strongly disagree with having an abortion in any circumstance. I don’t feel that having an abortion is morally or ethically right. Why is it our right to chose to terminate a child’s life? I believe that this decision should and needs to come from a higher power.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, I also agree with the doctors who say that screening can help prepare a family for bringing a special needs child into their lives and homes. If I were pregnant I would probably get the screening done, so that my husband and I could start preparing. I would also want to prepare our families because they too are such an important part in raising a child.
By allowing yourself to get the screening you are giving your child the very best start possible. The screening allows you to be emotional, physical, spiritually, and financially prepared. Which in turn, also gives you the best possible start with your child?
I think the question of whether or not fetal screenings for Down Syndrome should be conducted boils down to intent. I think it is morally reprehensible if a parent asks for the screening with the intent that they will abort the pregnancy if the fetus is found to have the disability. However, if parents request screenings with the intent that they will keep the baby no matter what the diagnosis, but they want the advance warning to physically and emotionally prepare for a child with disabilities, I think fetal screening can be a huge benefit to those families. While I believe that the screening could be beneficial to families who plan on continuing with a Down Syndrome pregnancy, I agree with The National Down Syndrome Congress’ response to the ACOG recommendation that all pregnant women should be subjected to fetal screening for Down Syndrome when it stated: “…the mere existence of fetuses… with trisomy 21 is more likely to be considered diminished or devalued, thereby jeopardizing the protections customarily afforded to any fetus...” I think that compulsory fetal testing carries with it the potential of devaluing the life of the child and increasing the likelihood of an abortion. In short, I think that fetal testing should remain an option but should not be an obligatory part of pregnancies.
ReplyDeleteI certainly believe that pre-natal screening can result in a healthier pregnancy, for both the mother and the child, both physically and emotionally. As mentioned in the article, pre-natal screening can help a family be prepared to accept all of the responsibilities and emotional and financial costs that come from having a child with disabilities. However, I personally feel that although pre-natal screening is useful to help prepare a family in the event that their child may have disabilities, it should not be used in order to make decisions regarding the termination of the pregnancy. As related to beautifully in Patricia Bauer’s article about her daughter, when people choose to terminate a pregnancy based on pre-natal screening, which is not always able to identify Down’s Syndrome with complete accuracy, they choose to end a life that is just as important and vivacious as any other individual’s. I also do not feel that pre-natal screening should be required for all pregnancies, especially since it is currently not always covered by insurance. I feel like this procedure is one with numerous consequences, and parents should make their own personal decision regarding whether they want pre-natal screening or not.
ReplyDeleteI agree that prenatal screening can lead to healthier pregnancies and help parents become better prepared for the upcoming birth of their infant. I would hope that if someone's screening leads them to think that their fetus may have Down Syndrome that they would take the next step of having an amniocentesis to actually diagnose before making any kind of decision in regards to an abortion. Sadly, many do not take that next step.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal note, while I was pregnant with my second child, my doctor thought there was a problem with my fetus, that there was a cyst in the placenta and ordered a second ultrasound for me to be certain of the problem. I went to the ultrasound. The doctor there was trying to prepare me for what I may hear, thinking that the baby would have Trisomy 13 or 15. He told me that my baby would probably miscarry and if I did give birth it would only live for 2 weeks. In my head, I didn't care if the baby only lived 2 hours, I had decided that I would not abort no matter what the results. What right do I have to take away the life of another? Well, the second ultrasound determined there was no cyst. There was nothing wrong with my fetus. He is now a normal 13 year old boy.
If there had been something wrong, I would be grateful for the screening to help me be prepared, but I would not use that information to terminate the pregnancy.
I really liked your story Naomi:). I strongly disagree with abortion. No one has that right. I really appreciated the article written about the author's daughter. What a powerful message. I think more people should read it; and I'm sure there are many others similar to it.I do think pre-natal screenings can be beneficial; it would be nice to have as much preparation as possible if I had a child with disabilities. However, I don't think it should be required-that should be up to the parents. I also think that if it meant fewer people would abort, maybe it would be better if we just didn't do them at all. I think it's so sad that someone would kill their child just because they think something is wrong with him/her. Anyone who has worked with special needs knows that we're the one with problems:).
ReplyDeleteI feel very uncomfortable responding to this post, mostly because I am not God. But I guess that sort of says how I feel: are these doctors and parents trying to play God? That's all I can really say, I'm not going to be the one that determines the answer to that question. Overall, I do not like the idea of anyone playing God and I do not liek the idea of a child's life being so easily thrown away because of "imperfections." It is appalling, it is hurtful, and it is twisted. But I also understand a parent feeling weary about bringing a child into this life that will be in pain of sick all of their life (if that was the prescribed case...). So it is just a very personal matter.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that I like about this argument is that I see hwo much science has progressed. It is wonderful for parents to get information about their baby in order to prepare to love them more!! But that is it! There is one question I would ahve liked answered though: is there such thing as a screening test that really identifies with 100% accuracy what a child will be like upon arrival? Anyway, a very interesting argument.
I do not think that screening should be required for all pregnancies especially if it is not covered with insurance. I don’t think people should be forced to get something done that isn’t necessary. It is just an additional thing that you can do for a pregnancy. It is not a necessity. I feel that it should be a personal choice. If you decide you want to pay for a screening test than that should be your decision. I think the pre-natal screening test is more harm than good. I feel that by having a screening test, it can show you things that you may not want to see (like your child having down syndrome) and it can greatly influence you on having an abortion when maybe before you never dreamed you would ever do such a thing. I strongly disagree with having an abortion in anyway shape or form. I feel that everything happens for a reason, and certain people come into your lives for a reason. If you don’t want a child or don’t think you are ready, my thoughts are adoption. There are so many wonderful parents out there that don’t have the opportunity to have children for themselves and would love to take care of a child in need. But I’m not going to get into the whole abortion issue. I think by having screening it influences people to get abortions and can make it seem ok that you are doing it to better the life of your child. I know lots of Down syndrome people and they are high functioning and have jobs and are so happy with life. This is not always the case, but you never know what your child will become. You have to give them a chance to live and prove themselves. On the other hand screening is beneficial because it can give you preparedness with financial, emotional support. It is always good to be prepared, but I think you need to be mentally prepared before you agree to do a screening test. In the end I don’t think screening tests should be required for all pregnancies and if you do get one you should be mentally prepared and I would hope that one would not end a life of a child just because they MIGHT have Down syndrome. Yet again this is another personal choice. And my choice would be to never end a life, even if they have a disability.
ReplyDeleteI believe that screening can be beneficial to the parents and family members of the child. It will help them prepare emotionally, and they can learn of the best resources to help care for the child. In this way, they will be able to give their child the best care they can. I also think that the screening should be voluntary.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the article about the mother with a child that has Down's Syndrome, and she talked about how many abortions have happened after these screenings, I was sick. Although she hasn't provided any statistical backing, I believe that there have been many abortions after these screenings.
I think that there should be mandatory procedures done in hospitals after the mother has the screening, including resources that are available to the parents, and examples of other parents who have found joy in caring for their children. Hopefully, with a better understanding of how special these children are, and the resources that are available to them, these parents will understand the great asset these children are to our society
This is a very interesting topic, one that I think is based on personal values and personal decisions. In my own opinion, I think that the pre-natal screening can be a benefit and a curse to some people. The benefit obviously being that the couple can find out early enough about their baby and start mentally, physically, and emotionally preparing for the baby like others have stated above; but also a curse to some people who may rethink having their baby because it may not be born "perfect." I liked what the mother in the article said about people wanting and wishing for the perfect baby and the perfect life where she responded to them "dream on." I think according to the world children with disabilities are scary, unable to do things, and not capable of the same things "normal" children are. The world does not see these amazing children as what they truly are which is special. I am getting off on a little tangent only to make the point of people having skewed, worldly thoughts and actions. I think some people, if knowing they were going to have a child with down syndrome, would make an irrational decision without really thinking and just abort the baby. I guess it comes down to everyone's free agency for what they do with the information they are given, but for me, I think pre-natal screening would really be beneficial. I think I would get one if I were pregnant just to help my husband and I get ready for what could happen. I would never do anything to hurt my baby and my personal opinion is anti-abortion, but at least my husband and I could talk and discuss together what changes financially, emotionally, and physically we needed to make to get ready for this precious child of God.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Trina's thoughts that after the screening depending on the results there should be some kind of resources available to the couple to get as much information they want or need. Again, I think this is a very personal topic, one that only the couple can make. Free agency is a wonderful gift we are all blessed with and only the couple can make such a life-altering decision themselves based the results of the pre-natal screening or not.
I do think that prenatal screening can be beneficial in many ways. I think that it would be comforting to mentally prepare for the possibility of having a child with Down’s syndrome. I believe that knowledge can help people to become better parents and to begin doing research and setting up programs and aids for their children. This knowledge can enable parents to be as prepared for parenthood as possible. However, it is a huge concern to me that so many of these pregnancies are terminated. I breaks my heart to read that an estimated 80-90% of people that find out their child might be handicapped terminate their pregnancy. I just wish that those people could realize what a joy that child would be in their life. Also, because there are false positives, it concerns me that people would jump to terminate their pregnancy even though there is a chance that their child might even be healthy. I do not believe that screening should be required. I think that is a personal choice to be made by the mother and father of the child.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what most people have said, and I would add that it applies to any disability, as well as Down Syndrome:
ReplyDelete1. Pre-natal screening can be a good thing because it prepares parents emotionally and gives them time to research the disability and find support groups.
2. Abortion is wrong. Absolutely. I have known many people with disabilities, and even those who lived in wheelchairs, never talked, and were fed through feeding tubes were still able to find happiness in little things. They made people around them happy, and I would never, ever wish that they had been deprived of life.
4. Mothers should have the option of pre-natal screening. They should also be given accurate information about what it is like to have a child with a disability--the challenges, the joys, the community resources, research, etc.
I mean 3.
ReplyDelete:)
I do not think that the prenatal screening should be mandatory. It can be helpful yes. For a mother to know in advance that her child will have Down syndrome is great and can help her be emotionally prepared. It is very sad that some people would use that knowledge as a reason for an abortion which I completely disagree with. I have a friend who has a Down Syndrome son and when she found out in advance, not only was she able to emotionally prepare herself but she was also able to explain to her older children. They were prepared for this wonderful child to come into their lives and completely embrace him. I know there are goods and bads to each side of the argument but I believe that being prepared and getting the help or support needed beforehand is priceless. This can help any family in preparing for a wonderful child to enter the family.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me want to cry.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that future parents should be offered the choice as to whether or not they will undergo screening during pregnancy. I think this can be a very positive thing as far as helping parents who will have a child with disabilities prepare and gain a better understanding of how it may affect their lives. This could work wonders in aiding parents with good intentions to be better parents and plan for their child's future.
However, the idea seems to be used for very negative reasons, more often than not. Because the screening is so expensive, it is likely that those who are willing to pay for the screening are those who care enough to base decisions regarding abortion upon the results. As screening can be such a positive thing for many parents, I don't think it should be taken away because some people make close-minded and selfish decisions. But, I am convinced that, wherever screening is available, further information should be mandatorily provided. This should involve information regarding what Down Syndrome is, how it affects an individual, and the opportunity to meet an individual with Down Syndrome and his/her parents. In this way, those who may be frightened by the prospects of having a child with disabilities must make more informed decisions before they participate in this increasingly popular form of genocide.
I thought of it as a future mother and also as a teacher but this is what I feel and think. I feel like it would be of some benefit to a family as they are getting excited and preparing for a family. I don’t know if you can even prepare for any child, especially since the learning and experiences come when the child is with you. You can only do so much to prepare. I think the same kind of preparation can be still just as effective after the baby is born. So many other parents who have children with disabilities don’t get the chance to know and they do just fine. I don’t feel like it should be required. I think that that is an extremely personal choice. I think with the cost being an issue, it again should be a personal choice. I do not agree with abortion, therefore I agree with the comments before of intent. These children are placed on this earth because mainly they just needed a body (some needed the experience to prove themselves but others no). They are sent in our lives because our judgmental/ worldly minds at times need the teachings and reminders that these precious children will teach us. There are important truths that they teach us that are crucial for us to go home. Take away that crucial help in your life and you take away one of the ways that you have to change and grow in the way God knows you can. I agree also that our idea of suffering is different to what these children may consider. The other possibility is that with this test do we know the severity of what the disability is. I would never want my child to learn learned helplessness or for me to plateau them sooner than they can achieve. This testing would have its benefits but it also has the risk of increased abortions. Personally I wouldn’t want to know and wouldn’t get the test. That’s something that I think will always be in my mind as a possibility that my child could have a disability and my preparation and learning will be there even after birth. But yes it’s a personal choice.
ReplyDeleteUnfortuatnely in this situation i feel that screening is obviously going to have it's pro's and con's. It really unfortuante that people are going to have a abortion because either they feel that it would be too much work to have a child with down syndrome or they just dont care. I think screening could be great, it could give the parent time to look up and learn more about the child so that when they are born the parents ahve a better understand of what they should do or what's going on. It will also give the doctors an chance to talk with the parents and explain the diagnosis. The sad part is that many times doctors will encourage mothers to get an abortion.
ReplyDeleteDo i believe that it should be required to get a screen, no. As was mention not all insurance cover it so i dont think its fair to require someone to get it done if they dont have the money to. I think this is such a sticky situation because when screening is done you are taking the chance that the mother could be that person to get an abortion and then there are those that wouldn't. I definately dont agree with abortiona and am all for getting screening done but that's just because i know that i would take their life away just because they have a disability.
Just as some mothers want to know their child's gender before birth, some mothers want to take the extra step by pre-natal screening. I agree with Christina's statement that pre-natal screening can be both a blessing and a curse. Yes, parents can prepare, but I know I would be a nervous wreck for the rest of the pregnancy. Worrying about possible complications, and whether or not my family and I are financially/emotionally capable of having an infant with a disability, and, "Am I doing everything right? Is there something I'm forgetting?" I'd rather forego the screening and wait until birth to find out if my child has Down's Syndrome. Somehow I think that would be easier.
ReplyDeleteHowever, women have both the right to prenatal screening and the right to terminate their pregnancy. How they use these rights are entirely up to them. I agree that it is unfortunate so many women have aborted their future children just because they found possible evidence of trisomy 21. When I hear this, though, I have to wonder--what kind of mothers would they have been, anyway?
I JUST WENT THROUGH THIS 9 WEEKS AGO!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI’m pretty shocked to hear that almost everyone on this blog supports having screening done. I disagree. Here’s my story:
Andon and I were so excited to have our first ultrasound at 20 weeks. We saw our baby on the screen and found out it was a girl! Then we met with the doctor to discuss some things. She said everything looked great, she was measuring right on for her age. She said that the ultrasound doesn’t pick up all abnormalities and there might be a chance for some abnormalities found at birth (that was common sense to us, you never can really know for sure). Then she told us about having an amniocentesis where they put at needle into the womb, extract some fluid and test it for things like down syndrome. Oh, and by the way, there is a small 1% risk of miscarriage. So we asked, what’s the point then? She said that some people want to know in case they feel they need to terminate the pregnancy or if they want to prepare for the future. We looked at each other and said, “No thank you, absolutely not.” After that we asked how many people actually do it her e in Provo. She said hardly anyone does it but she HAS to offer it to all of the couples and let them decide. She didn’t seem to be too fond of it herself. I have many friends in my ward who are also pregnant and didn’t have the testing done. I was recently talking to one and it was also an easy decision for her to say no. She didn’t see, even though the risk of miscarriage is so small, how it would be worth it. You are already going to feel like you can’t prepare enough for the baby to come! How is knowing he/she has Down Syndrome going to change that? I guess you would worry more. What else would you be able to do to “prepare”? If she is born with Down Syndrome, then we will rally with our doctors and family and do the best we can to take care of her. I also told the doctor that I was majoring in Special Education and my husband and I then told her we would welcome a child with Down Syndrome with open arms!!! This type of testing should absolutely not be mandatory. It should remain a choice. My choice was to protect my baby from ANY risk of this unnessessary test. I can see why people might want it so that they can cope and prepare emotionally, but for our family we choice to continue on with our normal healthy pregnancy. Sorry my opinion is pretty strong on this one because I was just faced with the choice!
I think that as future special educators we are a little bit biased on this issue. We all believe that abortions are appalling and that children with disabilities can be blessings in people’s lives. I mean obviously, we want to spend time with them. However, many of us do have differing opinions on screening. Yes, screening can increase the risk of abortions, but if the screening is done the huge unexpected blow comes before a child is born. As a parent, that didn’t know much about disabilities, I would do the screening. I want to be the best parent I can be. If the blow came at the same time as the baby I would be so surprised and confused on how to raise a child with disabilities. I simply would not know how, not that I would want to know because I would get an abortion if anything went wrong in the pregnancy. I want to be the best parent for my child. Every child is a child of God. It is such a blessing to and a huge responsibility to be able to raise children, especially children that will go to the Celestial Kingdom.
ReplyDeleteHowever, just because I would personally recommend the screening it depends on each couple. They decide together and with God what should be done. It is a personal decision and should not be required. It breaks my heart that people get this screening to know whether they want an abortion or not. This is not what the screening’s purpose is. It is to better prepare and teach parents. Each set of parents should be completely informed on the process. There are pro’s and con’s. They need to know all aspects of the process.
I do not think it is an asset to pregnancy. I agree that there are some pros, but the cons outweigh the pros significantly in my opinion. It SHOULD NOT be required for all pregnancies. I am a firm believer that abortion is wrong and by providing women with the knowledge that their child may have a disability, Down Syndrome, just provokes them to abort the baby to avoid the problem. Pre-natal screening is also very dangerous. There are high chances that it can kill the fetus. My little brother was thought to have down syndrome and they told my mom they would do some pre-natal testing but it could jeopardize the baby. She refused and said that her baby was her baby no matter how different it may be from other children. She would not put her child in harm’s way. A child with disabilities is still a breathing living human being and should be treated like one. If it were any other ‘normal’ child, parents would not consider pre-natal testing. It should not be required. I do believe that knowing that your child may have a disability could help mentally prepare the parents, but not at the expense of the child. The preparation needed in order to have a special needs child can be obtained after birth just as much as it can be before
ReplyDeleteI think pre-natal screenings are good because it could show the mother what kind of health risks there may be and also help with the process of preparation.
ReplyDeleteHowever, abortion is always a can of worms to me because I am adopted and abortion was an option to my birth mother that she chose not to do even though health problems were already stated. I do not have disabilities and those health problems have subsided now, but I can't imagine robbing anyone the opportunity to live a life after my situation.
Pre-natal screening is a personal choice in my eyes. I don't think it is something that should be required but a decision between husband and wife. Through screening, greater knowledge may be obtained regarding the physical and mental state of your child. This could help prepare parents for things to come. On the other hand, I don't think it is necessary to know in every situation especially if it is leading someone to consider abortion.
ReplyDeleteI like how Ashley called this an increasingly popular form of genocide. That was the impression I got as I read Patricia Bauer's article. It makes me so sad to think that these children are being labeled in such a way that parents would view abortion as saving a suffering child or that parents who go through with pregnancy are being labeled as "victims of circumstance". The article said some studies estimate 80 to 90% of down syndrome cases are aborted. This is a true tragedy. I agree that pre-natal screening can be used for good. I think that preparing parents and families can allow them to transition smoothly and be better suited for caring and providing for their child's needs.
ReplyDelete-Lauren Stevenson
I do not think that pre-natal screening should be a must. I see how it is helpful and it is very likely that I will ask for them for my own pregnancies. Pre-natal screening is not the issue here.
ReplyDeleteWhat abosultly disgusts me is that someone could justify taking that child's life into their own hands - as if we have the right to bear and rear children, no, it is a blessing. Consciously rejecting that blessing is rejecting God and disgracing humankind.
This is a very interesting issue. My sister is having a baby and at her last doctors appointment was asked if she wanted to have these tests done. After asking some questions she decided that the tests were not necessary. Her reasoning was that termination was not a possibility and therefore the test were unnecessary. I totally understand the value that screening could have for families. Having the optimal amount of information and being as prepared as possible to parent a child with possible birth defects. The fact that these screenings could potentially serve as a factor in abortion is something that I cannot justify. I realize that these tests are very expensive and I therefore think that they may only need to be used in high risk situations.
ReplyDeletei agree with lots of the comments from the others in the class that abortion is not the answer especially in this situation. i think that screening should be used for preparing for what is to come not for deciding whether or not to terminate or go through with a pregnancy. When i was about 7 my mom was pregnant and they had some tests done and they found out that the babies neck was really thick and that it could mean that he had downs the tests are much better now but i remember my parents preparing us kids about it. he turned out to be just a really big over 10 pound baby and not downs but i feel that if he had been our family would have been ready and i feel that that is why you should have the screening, not as a way to see if you even want to have the baby i do not believe in that at all.
ReplyDeleteYou guys have great thoughts. I can definitely feel your love and concern for people with disabilities, which is what is really missing from those who would consider having an abortion based upon test results.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was expecting my 2 girls, I was happy to do the tests that were required and/or free, but decided to pass on the others. I think the amniocentesis and other tests which could create risks are especially unnecessary.
As far as preparation, I think that it really can help. I have a good friend who recently gave birth to a baby with trisomy 13. They knew about it early in the pregnancy and decided to carry the baby as long as possible, even though they knew he would not live for very long. They were able to prepare and have support from friends and family that they might not have had if they hadn't had any screening done before. When their baby was born, they were able to give him a name and blessing there in the hospital, and spend a few hours with him before he passed away. Although it has been a very hard experience for them, being able to prepare throughout the pregnancy was really helpful.