In an act of love, a married couple have sexual intercourse, a wonderful time of intimacy, during which, if the biological ‘time’ is ripe, the male sperm will impregnate the female ovum and a new life will be conceived.

At no time during that act of intimacy can I imagine the (soon to be) parents shouting ‘STOP’ —–  ‘what if this new life is deformed physically or mentally, will we abort it?’.

Yet these days it seems it is perfectly OK for the mother, or both parents to decide because my fetus is ‘defective’ I don’t want it, and I will kill it now rather than love it into life.

It sounds rather harsh doesn’t it? And yet if you read the report from ninesmen.com you would be left thinking this was so.

Two families are preparing to take legal action against hospitals for not detecting their unborn babies had Down syndrome (DS),  a chromosomal disorder which can affect a child’s development. Both couples claim they would have aborted their unborn children had they known they carried this disorder.

What is Down syndrome?
Down syndrome (DS), also called Trisomy 21, is a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops, both mentally and physically. It affects about 1 in every 800 babies.

The physical features and medical problems associated with Down syndrome can vary widely from child to child. While some kids with DS need a lot of medical attention, others lead healthy lives.

Though Down syndrome can’t be prevented, it can be detected before a child is born. The health problems that can go along with DS can be treated, and there are many resources within communities to help kids and their families who are living with the condition.

I love my Daughter one claimant says!

“Had the presence of Down Syndrome been diagnosed at the time of the first trimester ultrasound and/or at the time of the second trimester ultrasound, a time frame which permitted the termination of the pregnancy, then the (mother) would have terminated the pregnancy,” the statement of claim says.

So this begs the question: What price for a life? ‘I Love her’, but I would have aborted her, and now I want compensation for having had to go through the act of birthing and raising a defective child! Sounds very contradictory to me! Define love please?

I personally find it very difficult to understand how this couple (and others) can ‘sue for a child who was born as a result of negligent care.’

Surely the only negligence here was that the parents did not take sufficient care when having intercourse, which led to the pregnancy in the first place. How can you claim wrongful birth!!

Maurice Blackburn lawyer Kathryn Booth said she was investigating whether appropriate ante-natal management and testing, including an amniocentesis, should have been offered and performed.

In 2003 the High Court ruled parents could sue in the event of a wrongful birth, she said.

New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania have legislated against such claims. But in Victoria, people can sue for compensation for the continuing costs of raising a child to the age of 18, where the child was born as a result of negligent care, she said.

In the second case, Western Health is being sued over a birth at Sunshine Hospital in December 2007.

The parents allege a failure to “exercise reasonable care” of the mother, “advise (her) in relation to the risks of Down syndrome given her age” and “provide (her) with the option of ante-natal screening.

“In the event that Down syndrome had been detected, (she) would have elected to undergo a termination of her pregnancy,” their statement of claim says.

The parents claim to have suffered “depression, shock and anxiety” and “pain and suffering during pregnancy and delivery”.

All life is a precious gift. If you cannot handle this fact, then I personally suggest you do not have children. You think that is a harsh reply from me? How are your two children going to feel, when they grow up and learn, that to you – they were not wanted, needed or desired, because you found them defective. You would have legally had them killed before they could draw their first breath. You cannot handle the stresses of being parents to a Down Syndrome Child. You have put a price on raising them to adulthood.

This seems more like follow the dollar to me – plus a very callused heart. Forgive me sounding so judgemental please.

All I can think of right now is praying for you all. Parents, innocent children, legal practitioners and abortionists!

Father God, giver of all life:
I hold up the families of these two children to your throne of grace.
It seems fairly obvious that they do not know you personally Creator God,
Or the gift of life that you have endowed your human family with.

A life so precious, that you sent Jesus into the world
to save us all from eternal damnation,
through an eternity separated from your love.

Please teach them Father God, that they can obtain forgiveness for their
callus intent, if they turn to you now in faith and love.

Murder is wrong – no matter what the prevailing circumstances.
Your Holy Word tells us in the simplest of terms:
Thou Shalt NOT Kill, no ifs, buts’ or maybes.

I also hold up to you the perpetrators of abortions,
The Doctor’s, Nurses’ and other hospital staff who are complicit,
along with the lawyers and judges responsible for passing the laws
enabling legal abortions in this country.

I plead with you Lord,
Open up their hearts and minds to the Love you have so freely give us all.
Soften their inner being so that they too will freely receive the grace
and the faith they so desperately need to stop these killings from taking place.

For the innocent disabled children Lord,
Send someone into their lives to teach them about real love.
Teach them the real love that Jesus brought to us over two thousand years ago.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, (Jn 14:16)
These are very special children Lord, and are beloved of you.

Humbly I pray.        Amen.

References:

Down’s Syndrome

Herald Sun’s report on the two (suing) families