We were discussing this last night. I had no idea the numbers were this high, I assumed they were below 50%.

I'm surprised too, I would never have guessed it was that high.

(your second link is bad)

I can understand why, mayb parents might be frightened of the idea of having a child with mental disabilities, afraid they won't be able to afford any of the necessary treatments or special education programs.

I don't know much about autism, but it is a rather intimidating scenario for someone whom a healthy baby would be enough of a financial burden.

Down syndrome, not autism.

I would be hard-pressed to say I would want a kid with any of these disabilities. There is a range with down syndrome... but, I'll go ahead and say it, I'm not sure I'd sign up for those challenges if I had the option.

And I'm not surprised that spina bifida triggers abortions; those babies rarely live long outside of the womb. An open spine is just asking for extreme health problems.

It's always hard to say what we'd do when faced with a life-changing decision.

In this instance, some of us know. Abortion is not an option for me.

But that is me.

I don't think I would give birth to a child if i knew they would never have a happy and healthy life.
I guess when the times comes (if it ever comes, hopefully it will never) I'll deal with it then.

How can they possibly group downs, spina bifida, anencephaly, turners, and hermaphroditism!!!! Only one of those disorders are fatal (anencephaly). In other 3 (if you exclude downs), people can lead a happy productive life with a varying range of medical complications. There are a certain number of people born with spinda bifida that do not even know they have it, it's called an "incidental finding" detectable by xray. Can't remember the name of it...anywho.


I'd like to read the actual paper this article is based on Termination rates after prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, spina bifida, anencephaly, and Turner and Klinefelter syndromes: a systematic literature review and the data said paper was based on (nine region-specific EUROCAT registries from five European).

I'm not buying it.

I know a number of downs people, and I can tell you unequivocally that they have happy, productive lives. They are both working and living independently (in a group home). There is so much that can be done for downs children now.

I guess the ones you know are those who survived long enough to be there. The only one I knew died at the age of 3, and wasn't that much happy. Experienced a s**tload of pain in the last year. The parents too...
Intelligent design, isn't it?

My sister's baby with down's has almost died three times in her three years thus far.

I have known a downs syndrome kid, and its sad but I know he will have a horrible life. His parents are awful, they just aren't capable of giving him the kind of care he needs. For this reason, I have no problem with this stat. People generally know what they are capable of, and if they can't give the kid the care that he needs then it only causes the whole family suffering.

Although I am with Bingo in that I personally would never want an abortion, it is because I know that my wife and I would do everything in our power to give the best care possible.

I grew up living next door to Dougie, who had Down's Syndrome, and he was a wonderful, happy boy that everyone in the neighborhood loved. His parents treasured him, as did his non-disabled siblings. My life was enriched by him, and taught many of us tolerance and patience.

There alot of people like me, who refuse to get the testing done for Downs while pregnant. I'll handle what ever is thrown my way when the time comes. Sure I hope and pray for a heathly normal child, but sometimes thats not whats in the cards. My 2nd child for instance, autistic...yet, without fear of having another autistic child, I have gone on to have more children.. and am currently preggy (13wks left..woohoo). If it is in the cards for me to have another disabled child, bring it on!!

However, I do know there are people out there who couldn't handle the stress/pressure/needs of a disabled child. So I won't look down upon anyone who chooses to abort...better they abort now, then the child go unloved/uncared for later.