Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
Or we can simply provide far better healthcare for all its citizens, as any modern country now does.
I imagine that many fetuses which are diagnosed with Down's Syndrome are aborted in the US and elsewhere.
Down's Syndrome about to be cured in Denmark
- Thread starter Loppan Torkel
- Start date
I imagine that many fetuses which are diagnosed with Down's Syndrome are aborted in the US and elsewhere.
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
I have no problem keeping such disabilities out of the gene pool and taxpayer bills. Down syndrome is not a quality life for a human being and we have no right to left them suffer it.
Down's isn't something you keep out of the gene pool, as very few people with the condition will ever reproduce themselves.
Perfection
The Great Head.
A couple things here:
1. Calling this selfishness isn't wholly appropriate. Not only will I need to care for it for such a long duration, but my spouse as well and if this is not our first child it would effect them as well as we may not be able to give the first child the attention it needs.
2. I don't think this is reflection of a lack of commitment, there's always the chance that any child will require said care. I would commit to that if I had to, but given the choice to have a child that would require said commitment, I would not make said commitment.
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
I think that is going way too far. Nobody is requiring that fetuses diagnosed with Down's Syndrome must be aborted in Denmark, or anyplace else.
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
The few that do, shouldn't, and the rest are incapable of living the lifestyle a healthy human being is afforded. I'm of the opinion that abortion and genetic engineering should be used as much as possible to eradicate these forms of disorders and retardation.
Not to mention the fact that, even discounting possible accidents, parents simply will not be equal to that task at one point.
EnglishCrusader
AYEEEEE
I don't have a problem with them being aborted if they have a serious condition like this. Although they might enjoy their lives, you have to think of others.
Perfection
The Great Head.
Indeed, even with my commitment, there are conditions that I cannot successfully manage.
kochman
Deity
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2009
- Messages
- 10,818
This makes a lot of assumptions....
I mean, if the child is happy, then what does it matter that they have a "lesser" life? Who's determining that?
I don't know what I would do, it would have to be decided between the female and me together...
I have known some ******** people, and they are generally way happier and loving than otherwise.
SS-18 ICBM
Oscillator
If it's voluntary on the part of the couple, then I have no issue with it.
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
Eugenics based on social Darwinism used to be adopted in many countries. Fortunately, the latter was debunked long ago and the former is no longer mandated in many countries, as it once was.
For example, Sweden coerced the sterilization of "deviant" and mentally ill women until 1975. Many gypsies were targeted, even though the government denied there was no ethnic aspect to the program. The government rejected paying compensation to the victims as late as 1996, but later decided to do so in 1999.
aronnax
Let your spirit be free
This isn't like if the child is born and unexpectedly gets a disease that requires life-time care. Of course any parent will step up to the plate if they discover that their child might develop some medical problem.
This is a child that is not yet born and parents have been given a chose whether or not they want to spare both the mother, father and child the associated pains of taking care of a down syndrome child. There are some parents who will love the child no matter what and bear one, love one and take care of one.
Then there are also parents who realise the difficulty of taking a DS child and feel that it is not fair to either themselves or their child to be born into life or additional hardships.
I'm sure parents who abort DS children do not do it just because they want a "normal, proper" child. They think about the consequences of abortion or keeping the child deep and true, exploring all possible ways, whether or not it will be fair to them and the child before deciding.
SS-18 ICBM
Oscillator
Wait a minute, you can't remove Down's Syndrome from the gene pool permanently. Unless Denmark found a way to prevent all meiotic nondisjunction events in all its citizens...
Based on the comments I feel somewhere in the middle. Of course no one is suggesting that women be required to abort a down syndrome child so people equating this with Nazi Germany are just over-reacting.
I also don't think it's selfish to want to abort a down syndrome child. I suppose you can say it's selfish if you yourself have a down syndrome child but until you've had to do it I wouldn't judge other people. It's not something I would want to be burdened with.
On the other hand, some people are acting like it's selfish to have down syndrome children, like they're arguing in favor of eugenics. How often do down syndrome or other ******** people have their own children?
So my opinion basically is, it's not a bad thing that less down syndrome people are born but it's not exactly a good thing either.
I also don't think it's selfish to want to abort a down syndrome child. I suppose you can say it's selfish if you yourself have a down syndrome child but until you've had to do it I wouldn't judge other people. It's not something I would want to be burdened with.
On the other hand, some people are acting like it's selfish to have down syndrome children, like they're arguing in favor of eugenics. How often do down syndrome or other ******** people have their own children?
So my opinion basically is, it's not a bad thing that less down syndrome people are born but it's not exactly a good thing either.
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
You're comparing me to Nazis? Its this kind of thinking that prevents cures for this kind of DISABILITY. It wouldn't be a disorder, retardation, disease, etc if there wasn't some sort of evidence to back it up. I'm sorry for thinking the only humans that should live are ones that at the very minimum are healthy mentally. Down Syndrome is the opposite of a healthy human being. I'm not saying to murder them, but preventing them from ever being born with abortion and genetic engineering, the later being the preferred future of baby business as it helps eradicate such issues entirely, is not wrong. I'll abort my own child if it is for certain going to be born with some mental retardation such as this and anyone who doesn't is selfishly putting that child through a lifetime of suffering.
Perfection
The Great Head.
So Lucky, what if a woman doesn't want to abort her Down Syndrome child? Should we do something about that?
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
No, I am stating that such programs did exist in many countries, including the US, and were finally abandoned. All this is explained in great detail in the Wiki articles.
And I posted the German poster to show that one of the major arguments was the cost to society, which you did specifically mention previously:
I think we both agree it should be a matter of personal decision, but I am vehemently opposed to the government getting involved. Too many gross mistakes were made in the past as a direct result.
Kozmos
Jew Detective
After working some short time with ******** mentally challenged people I have to say I would not want to lead such a life, be it parent or child. So abort away!
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
No. We cannot control a person but we can run a negative ad campaign against such behavior. I'm not saying force anyone to do it, but giving people the options legally to do it is THE BEST IDEA. Anyone, coughPalincough, who brings a human into this world knowing they will be handicapped mentally to the point of being in the care of others forever is a terrible human being.
But you ARE trying to compare this to the Nazis. Why else would you post a German poster? I have at no point said we should force anyone to kill such people, but giving EVERYONE the preventative measures would in all likelihood eradicate such ethical issues entirely. If you have the option to genetically engineer your baby so it doesn't have an extra 21st chromosome, would you say no? How selfish of a person can you be at that point? Hipsterism shouldn't be a legal choice for parents.