Matt the Medic

Yes I am.

At what point to you draw the line at 'being brought into this world' as a result of negligence or failing to make a good decision? Is it okay to kill newborns with serious birth defects? How about at 6 months old, once you realize there are serious mental deficits preventing proper development? Is it okay then?

You have to draw the line somewhere.

Matt

dettus

When my wife was pregnant with our second child she had to have tests done, namely amniocentesis(sp) because she was over 35. This happens at about 17 weeks. So the test come back and there is an issue. So several weeks later, after many tests, we get the results. Now thankfully everything turned out to be ok, just some translocated segments of chromosomes (in an uncommon way so the effects of this translocation are unknown), but abortion was an option. (not that it was seriously considered by us, the chances of major issues was like 4%, higher than the standard 2% because of my wife's age at the time). This was at about 22 weeks. This is also about the time when fetuses can be born and still survive (with help).

So the idea that people are clueless or dumb or just evil and wait for the last second is BS.

Jaggers

My apologies for the overly broad generalization. Of course, your story greatly strengthens my larger point.

Jaggers

No you don't. With respect to major birth defects or substantial retardation, it is not obvious to me that infanticide of such newborns is morally wrong.

Matt the Medic

It supports my point, too. At some point, one must make a subjective call that this fetus is more human than just cells. I personally tend to agree with the limit of viability, which is where premature babies have a good chance of survival without major impairment. This is currently at around 23-24 weeks- right around the end of the second trimester/beginning of the third.

This is 6 months worth of time for testing and decision making. If one can't afford or elects to forgo preterm testing, it's highly unlikely defects would be detected until birth anyways.

Matt

Matt the Medic

You still draw the line somewhere. if not infanticide than toddlercide or what have you. You make a distinction just like me, unless you support choosing to kill children with major defects at any age up to 120+.

Matt

dettus

I don't like the notion that someone else's life isn't worth living. ex: a deformed or sickly infant.

I'm pro-choice but I am personally against abortions. I choose birth. If asked I encourage others to give their children a chance at life. I am a 100% secular atheist.

Matt the Medic

I agree fully.

Matt

orpheus last chant

However, babies born at 7 months can survive and lead a normal life. I've heard of ones going back to 5ish months. To me, from about middle second semester, it becomes a human being, and it's no longer just am embryo/fetus. The same money spending should be done on a newborn as on a viable premature baby (6-7+ months).

Superheavy

"She wants it" has the highest vote count at the moment. Not promising. Threat to physical health gets my vote.