Should severely retarded children be aborted at birth?
this is an interesting topic, as you can tell by the heated answers. first off if you mean killing the baby after birth I strongly think it is wrong (and extremely illegal). However, a few months ago our doctor gave us the option of testing our unborn child for some birth defects. I asked the doctor what good the test did. She said if it is positive we could choose to end the pregnancy. I think this is what you are asking about. Immediately my husband and I choose to not test. We would be great parents to a handicapped child. Some people wouldnt be great parents to such children. These parents may be doing what is best for them and the child by choosing to not continue the pregnancy. Its a tough decision and I feel bad for anyone who has to make it. This topic brought up conversation with my close family and friends and I was interested to learn what they thought. For example my mother said she would probably end the pregnancy. My own mom, it was weird to hear but a personal choice. I hope you arent in this situation, but if you are good luck and you are the only one that can make the decision and you have to live with it. Good Luck. Good Questions I enjoyed reading.
Does anyone know of any celebrities who have children with special needs?
Doug Flutie has a son with autism and has a foundation developed to it. Sylvester Stallone also has a son with autism, as did the recently deceased opera singer Beverly Sills. JFK and Ted Kenedy had a sister with some degree of developmental and mental retardation (possibly caused by a severe childhood illness). Special Olympics and many of the laws regarding the educational rights and rights to health care for disabilites are a direct result of the Kennedy family wanting all families to have the chances they could give to thier sister. Am sure there are others, but these are the ones I can think of immediately.
Adopted a special needs child without knowing it.?
When I was 13 I was also diagnosed with ODD, adhd, depression. My mom was just like you, not a librarian but huge on researching everything. I also saw a therapist and a psychiatrist. I'm also adopted. No one ever considered my issues might come from relinquishment because my little sister was also adopted and did not have the same issues as I did. My psychiatrist had me on an antipsychotic, adderall, and zoloft. No one could figure out why the meds weren't working. Looking back I realize that they weren't working for me because I was misdiagnosed. I felt unable to say how I felt, misunderstood, and alone. That is a huge chunk of my life that was a pretty dark time for me. I defintely believe that you should look into the issues that relinquishment causes kids...it's because we are adopted that we have issues, but because we have been relinquished. Being relinquished is a traumatic experience and research shows that to be true. I wish that my mom had been able to separate herself enough from it and realize that my adoption was not all about her so that she would have been able to recognize my pain. Maybe I would have gotten the proper therapy rather than being on unnecessary medications for years. Read about my story more on my blog if you want to...I actually just posted about ODD and adoptees. http://thequeenofdenial.wordpress.com
You would have to go to a doctor who specializes in genetic testing . In my special needs school , we had twins with the same syndrome . We had cousins with the same syndrome . We also had two siblings that had severe special needs , and one sibling in that same family , that was a genius. We also had one sibling had special needs , and the other four siblings didn't . I personally know of four friends of mine who have had special needs sisters or brothers , Two of them have “ typical “ children , and two do not . I think it's a 50/ 50 chance . Again , go see a doctor .
My dad raped my sister and got her pregnant!!! HELP PLEASE?
I certainly hope this isn't true. She needs councilling not just for the rape trama, but for the family planning aspect of this. I understand that some victims of rape and incest do not believe in or feel guilty about aborting a pregnancy, but it is an option to keep open since she is the victim of both. A young girl forced into this situation by her father isn't something that any child should go through. A councilor would be able to explain all options to her and help her make the best decision. If she feels she cannot terminate the pregnancy, adoption should be the only other alternative, whether someone else in the family takes the baby or a stranger. I don't believe there is any way she can take care of this child being she is mentally and emotionally unprepared for motherhood, and being she is so young and not mature enough to deal with the emotional pain that would come with the raising of, so to speak, her own sister-daughter. Many older, much more mature women cannot handle caring for the child born of rape by someone they never knew, and in the end they are abused, or treated unfairly. No one would expect a young girl to take on this kind of responsablity. It wouldn't be healthy for her to try to care for this baby, and would prove to be an emotional strain and reminder of what she went through. If should she feel like she is abandoning the baby or is weary of an unknown placement, there are programs out there that would allow her to get to know and help choose the adoptive parents and they would follow her pregancy, even help with expences. She could even find someone within your family circle so she could remain close if she wanted with the child being more of a cousin or niece, instead dealing with caring for her own sister-daughter. I hope and pray everything works out for her and she makes the right decision that is not only best for her, but best for the baby as well. Love, Angela
My little sister needs to get an abortion how can I convince my parents?
Honey I feel your pain. I myself am quite young, and I might be pregnant. If I am, there is also adoption that could happen, if she does not want to do an abortion. I also agree that at age 13, having a baby is just not a good idea. If you think that she should not put the baby up for adoption, then think about abortion. Talk about it with her. Make her understand that she just isn't mature enough..no matter what the situation is at the moment. What you wrote are pretty good reasons. Tell your parents. They should listen. That's a horrible decision if they want their own daughter to suffer consequences by dying. Sure, it may be a bad thing that your sister did, but the past is the past..only worry about the future. Honestly, I am pro-choice for abortion. I feel like it is the mother's body, therefore it is her choice on what she does with the body. I am not saying abortions are good, though. I'm just saying, under circumstances, you may think about it. Though it would not be my first choice. But yeah, a mother age 13 will not be able to provide a child by her own. She will need a lot of support with her family, boyfriend (?), friends... if she does proceed with having a baby. So, just talk to her about it. Right now, it seems like you've made up your mind, saying this is right, this isn't,... But have you talked to your sister yet? What does she think? Try and get a little perspective on her side. Though she may not be the most mature person out there, she knows right from wrong. If she is having sex, that is definitely a choice she is making though..
What happens if a brother and sister have a baby together?
It's very possible that nothing will be wrong with the child. He will have half of the sister's genes and half of the brother's. There's a good chance that could be fine. The problem is if your family carries a recessive gene for something that you might not know about, because it hasn't manifested in you. The child would be very likely to have that disease, if so. If the sister and the brother are both carriers of a gene for a disease, particularly if it's a rare disease, the child has a high chance of developing the disease. At very least, the child is certain to be a carrier. Now for the social ramifications. The parents of the brother and sister are going to be very upset. They may likely blame themselves for it. Generally speaking, brothers and sisters who have grown up together develop barriers that inhibit them from seeing each other as sexual partners. However, if a brother and sister haven't lived together since a young age (split up through adoption, divorce or other separation), then it's possible they may see each other as potential mates.
My sister is carrying a child with Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa,and tay sachs,shes thinking about abortion?
wow... that is a very tough situation. i don't know that i could actually suggest anything to your sister, as it is completely her decision. i do, however know that, if it were myself and my decision, i would have to take some time to think about it, but would seriously consider aborting. this, in my opinion, is a situation where abortion would be acceptable. i feel like i would be allowing what would surely be a stressful, painful, hard life to grow and not only would it be painful for the child, it will surely be painful for mom, and dad (?) the stress of this would likely interfere with their marriage(?) and mom's sanity. the child would also be a financial burden, does she have insurance? would they be willing to cover her child or are they going to drop her? will she be able to donate all her time and effort into caring for this child? i know these sound like harsh questions, but they are real questions she MUST consider when making her decision. it is a life changing decision that is ultimately up to her and her alone and should be thought through. i will pray for your sister and hope that whatever decision she makes will be one that brings her comfort. she will know what the right decision is when she looks deep in her heart. i suggest you as her sister, be by her side and be there to help her with anything she needs. pray for her, cry with her... or leave her alone if she pleases. but do tell your sister that whatever she chooses, you will always be there for her to love her and help her through it all