Autism Abortion

Post Reply New Topic

Why all the fighting over a test that not only doesn't exist but is unlikely to come into existence?

The more that is learned about genetics and autism (which is still very little at this point), the less likely a genetic test becomes. How so? Because the more it is researched, the more varied it is found to be. It isn't just one easily identifiable abnormality like with Down's Syndrome or with any of the other syndromes for which tests exist. The more they look into it, the more genes are found to be involved and it's all intertwined with what people call genetically "normal". The more they look, the more they find that there isn't "a cause" of autism that can be tested for.

The reason is because these kinds of topics draw people into a values based, rather than fact based argument. I cannot logically convince someone abortion is either bad or good. I can explain how costly unplanned pregnancies are to our society, because unwanted kids become abused kids and neglected kids, and perpetuate the cycle when they reproduce themselves. I can show how families can be destroyed by the stress of dealing with difficult children. I can show the medical costs associated with special needs children and state with confidence that not everyone has these resources at their disposal. Finally, I can state that the individual's right to choose their life's destiny, to whatever extent science makes possible, is a right that should be guaranteed to all individuals, and that choosing what to do or not do with your own body is perhaps the most basic and personal of human rights.

All these arguments are logical, and in my opinion, correct. However, there are those that believe that abortion is so odious, so evil, that it must be eliminated at whatever cost in terms of money and loss of personal freedom. They may disagree on what is or isn't an acceptable reason to abort, but ultimately, they share the same goal, to be able to dictate their values judgment onto other people. That, ultimately, is at the root of this argument. It's people telling each other what's right and wrong when there's no objective way to prove any of it. If you're really going to be a pro-lifer, be intellectually honest with yourself, and honest with the rest of us, instead of hiding behind an issue that doesn't exist (autism testing).

Personally, I'd rather re-frame the issue in terms of whether an individual should choose on abortion, or whether the government should, because ultimately, you can't be sure the government will impose your values when it could just as easily impose the values of people a lot wealthier and more powerful than you.

I'd like to invite you folks to this post if you would help.

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt146054.html

How exactly would we go about "not allow[ing]" this? I imagine it going something like this:

OB/GYN: Alright, so you want an abortion? Ok, let's do this thing! But first let me look at your medical records. Hey, wait a minute, it says here you had a prenatal test for autism performed! You're not trying to abort this fetus because it has a disability, are you? Because that is not allowed!
Pregnant Women: Why of course not, doctor. Why would I even think of doing such horrible thing? I just decided I'm not ready for motherhood at this stage in my life.
OB/GYN: Oh, phew, that's a relief! 'Cause for a minute there I thought you were. OK, as we were.

Uh cause we could have been the children aborted because we have Autism, so I think a guy does have some say as to abortions...

Don't get pregnant unless you can handle a special-needs child. Just in case. Or have a backup-- NOT an institution, but an honest-to-God backup plan that ABSOLUTELY IS prepared and ABSOLUTELY WILL provide the child with love and nurturing. And is NOT called the Judge Rotenberg Center. And better have a backup plan for your backup plan.

This topic no matter how you think or what side your on socially can be compared to the saying as being straight from the pits of hell. Should a test be developed and implemented it will not be like any comparison to other minority groups. The social pathology which I will not describe in theory to prevent my influence upon it is unfortunate for both sides. The idea of Buddha and just meditating to think nothing is the only way to avoid it once you think about it and it spreads politically.

Like I said in the other thread on the topic
making a prenatal test for autism is a cheap shot in finding a cure.
Its like saying since we cant find a cure, they might as well not have so many of them to treat.

I respect a women's choice, but I think that abortion as a cure is really lazy way to cure autism. Sure if the test is created, a woman wants to know, then it is her body, but I never liked the whole curing through abortion tactic. I have met some wonderful people with downs syndrome, and you could never ask for a happier child...they are like eternally bubbly happy people.

I know that there are times when abortions are the best thing to do because I had one. I wanted the child, but my boyfriend was abusive and threatened to kill me if I left him and took the child. I needed to leave him cause he was sexually and emotionally abusive. I had no other choice but to abort the child for my own safety. I could not give the child up for adoption because he was its father and for adoption requires both parrents consent. he burnt me with a cigarette for not performing oral sex on him and he was a sex addict and used to bully me into having sex with him. I have been celebate since I left him 11 years ago.

I am thankful that I had that choice...and even a mother of an autistic fetus should have a choice if presented, but I just think that abortion as a cure for a number of conditions is a cheap shot at finding a cure.

The use of the word cure is political in your statements. Cure is not limited to abortion by any means. Research into treatments for those that choose treatments are also considered types of cures or said treatments. I don't like word games so no reason to try them on me I see "opinions" in non-personal ways and strictly analytical.

I wish people would just outline there minds entirely but on issues like this it is emotional so I've spent some time devising the analytical frameworks. I'm not going for the model of guilting the public in advocacy as others do because of the issue. I think it's fair to the public that a person with autism just spills the beans per say and does a pure analysis of both sides.

The analysis will be quite harsh getting into socio-political dynamics and so on. The issue is quite fascinating and in ways I think many people have yet to realize.

Well there are already laws in the UK which say abortions can only be done under certain circumstances, so once the system has its loopholes sorted (some are bound to come out when brand new laws are enforced) it shouldn't be much of an issue.

First of all, if your parents had aborted you, you wouldn't give a s**t because you never would have been born in the first place.

Second of all, men cannot get abortions and will never know what it's like to be pregnant. Unless you are capable of getting pregnant, then you can GTFO when it comes to the abortion debate.

This is an excellent point. The only way would be to just ban fetal genetic tests, and in that case, families that had the means would simply travel abroad, get the test, and return. This would be very easy.

In general, I don't believe in abortion, and I just think it's kind of killing a life or something, and to kill someone because of their differences is just like genocide, in my opinion. We aren't living in WWII, we're living in present day America, so can't Americans tolerate differences? I'm OK with genetic testing, but if the parent decides to abort the fetus just because the baby has autism, it feels wrong to me. I believe that people on the spectrum (including myself; I don't meet the criteria, but I believe that I might have Asperger's, anyway) have a lot to offer in this world, and I don't want someone killing off potential.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_Hitlerum

You could also be aborting the next Chris-chan, or someone who is so low-functioning that they can't take care of themselves. Not all autistic people are high-functioning.

ok my son is HFA and I have AS.
As a child I had numerous issues and needed help and my son needs a whole lot of intervention. I really would not want to have another child. However, if I could take a test and see if my child had Autism would I? No I would not b/c I don't want to know and I don't believe in abortion for me for religious reasons. I think Abortion should be legal b/c when it wasn't women still got them in terrible conditions and that should be prevented. I think it's between that woman and her creator whether she gets an abortion and nobody else. Autism is not the worst thing there is but it's still a strain on a family's finances, relationships, and ability to function at times.

For those that say "I only want a perfect child" watch out honey you are only one disaster away from a vegetable, an invalid, or a child that is incapable of taking care of themselves. In a matter of minutes that perfect child of yours could be the child that needs the kind of care you have to give all day. Do you REALLY think a car accident, fall, or crime can never happen to your child? Well they happen every SINGLE day and someday it might be your child.

I don't want a perfect child, but I understand people wanting their kid to have the best chance of leading a "normal" happy life