Should abortion on the grounds of physical deformity be allowed?
Freedom of Choice is Not the Same as Discrimination
Aborting a deformed fetus is not the same thing as claiming that deformed people are less human, or less deserving of life. I have known several people who experience mental and physical disabilities, and I cherished those friendships. But such disabilities can be an enormous challenge, even a burden, to parent and child. An unprepared or unwilling family can become dysfunctional and harmful to the child. There is nothing wrong with a woman deciding that she is not willing or able to take on such a challenge.
Posted by: AnonymousNatural selection
Humanity is digging its grave with letting the weak survive.
Especially when the weak would choose to die if they had a chance to choose before they were even born.
Deformed people are not only pure expenses for society, but also will often lead a terrible life. Deformity is like a prison you can never escape and you are raped daily.Posted by: AnonymousYes, abortion based on the grounds of physical deformity should be allowed, because a great burden could be placed on both the parents and child if not allowed.
Abortion based on the grounds of physical deformity should be allowed, because a great burden could be placed on both the parents and the child if it is not allowed. Parents should have the right to make an educated guess as to whether the physical deformity of their child will be so severe that the child will have a poor quality of life, and if a burden will be placed on the parents.
Posted by: R3ciP3SayeI think abortion should be allowed for a physical deformity if it reduces the quality of life for the child.
I think abortion should be allowed for a physical deformity if it reduces the quality of life for the child. Sometimes physical deformities make it difficult for the person to enjoy life. In this case, I think abortion should be allowed. If the physical deformity is a missing pinky finger, which doesn't affect quality of life greatly, I think then abortion should not be allowed unless it normally is for other circumstances.
Posted by: ObaICheeseYes. I think abortion on the grounds of physical deformity should be allowed because it the pain and suffering of the child.
Abortion on the grounds of physical deformity must be allowed because it reduces the pain and suffering of the child when it lives. Being disabled can be a disadvantage for the child throughout their life. They will have problems when they grow up. They may not be able to play and do simple things that other kids do. They will have problems when it comes to employment. They may also face discrimination. These factors can take a toll on the mother who watches her child struggling in life. It is an emotional struggle for the child and the family. Though people may argue that abortion kills a child, it is better than have a child undergo a painful life in this world!
Posted by: N4rrGetLess government in people's personal affairs is always a good thing!
No issue has a polarizing affect for our society the way abortion does. In addition, many other items get pulled into the abortion debate that really have very little to do with abortion, such as stem cell research. While on a personal level I consider myself to be pro-life, I do not feel that government has a role in deciding this issue for myself or for anyone else. As with most social issues, the choice should be left to the individual so long as it does not infringe on the rights of another. With that said, I do think that government can regulate abortion. I consider second and third trimester abortions to be abhorrent. These abortions should be reserved for specialized situations, such as the health of the mother or fetus and also for victims of rape. Birth control practices should also be promoted and funded to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Posted by: snuggle muffinI support a woman's right to have an elective abortion performed if she chooses to, provided it is not late in the pregnancy.
I believe abortion is a woman's right, and the procedure should be decided only by her and her doctor, if she chooses. If abortion was illegal, it would not stop them from occurring. Every civilized western country gives their women the right to choose to have an abortion, and I believe the United States should too.
Posted by: Maynard1981In case of physical deformity, I support early abortion to avoid a lifetime suffering.
Depending on the seriousness of the deformity, which might have significant impact on the life of the newborn, I agree that early abortion is suggestible to avoid life-long suffering. Particularly in cases where-in the person has to go through a painful life ahead then I think it can be avoided.
Posted by: SaroM0vi3Abortion on the grounds of physical deformity should be allowed.
This is a touchy subject for most people...even those who are usually anti abortion may have some reserve about this circumstance. I myself could not abort a baby unless it was the result of a rape or if a life depended on it. There is always the option of adoption or abstinence for all that goes. However, nobody wants their child to have a disease or deformity. I do not agree with an abortion because of a club foot or something like that. It would have to be a major deformity with no aspect of a real life for the baby in my opinion.
Posted by: w00tboycomicYes, abortion should be allowed for any reason
Abortion should be allowed on any grounds. It is the woman's body, and the woman, or the parents, have the responsibility of raising the child. The foster care system is already overwhelmed with special needs children, and it is not the place of the government to say what a woman can do with her body
Posted by: VoicelessEmil67A parent should have the right to decide if their child's deformity precludes the child from an enjoyable life.
A parent who is informed that their fetus is physically deformed should have the right to choose whether or not the extent of the child's deformity will negatively impact the child's life to the degree that the child's life experience may be nothing but pain. In such an event the most caring thing the parent could do may be to prevent the child from that pain by aborting it before birth.
Posted by: Wynn354If a fetus is severely physically deformed it should be aborted due to quality of life.
If a fetus is deformed in a way that is going to affect the way that the baby lives than this would be the reason that it should be aborted. An abortion would be a better choice because you would never want a child to suffer with something their entire life.
Posted by: B3rkIffyAbortion based on physical deformity should be allowed as it's the mother's choice.
Abortion based on physical deformity should be allowed as it's the mother's choice. There can be restrictions and guidelines so it is not abused by people unhappy with gender or other non-critical things, but if a woman does not want to carry to term a fetus that is not going to survive or be in pain and suffer, she should be able to choose for herself.
Posted by: H0bi3InvaderGrudgingly Yes But We Have A Duty to Speak Against Them
This disspiriting message people on the pro-choice side keep sending out that any amount of pain and suffering is worse than death, think about the consequences! I support the pro-choice side because of bodily autonomy, but many of the arguments here are disgusting and basically tell disabled people or by implication anyone going through suffering they feel is significant enough that their lives are worthless and they'd be better off dead. Is that a good societal message? Your arguments will have consequences for people and these consequences will extend beyond the issue you are discussing. People never think about that when debating a topic. Why not keep to the bodily autonomy argument and say that while it's crass and wrong for a parent to abort a child on the grounds of disability or deformity that it should still be their choice because it's still her body?
In fact really abortion is pretty selfish if you think about it. A woman's body is her own, bodily autonomy is a good freedom for people to have in general(and should be more generally applicable in my opinion, my body my choice should mean I get to put what ever I want inside of it too). Just because you support something being legal doesn't mean you can't also say "yes it has to be legal because of X BUT it's still wrong and it's something that should be socially disapproved of and looked down upon." Why not? Banning something and sending people to jail is the most brutal way to solve a societal problem compared to the death penalty. Yet people who support legal abortion typically will also trot out arguments that make it sound like no big deal. You are too concerned with winning politically to do the right thing. The right thing is to support legal abortion but oppose abortion and tell people it's a bad choice and that they are selfish for getting it if she doesn't need it to save her life. It's far worse and shows a devaluing of human life and a position that says "if you suffer your life is worthless" for parents to abort due to deformity or disability. They should have the choice legally but we should condemn it.
As it is I may just convert to pro-life if I honestly think that the pro-choice position's typical arguments are steering society in the wrong direction. The arguments people make in support of one side or the other have effects that extend beyond the political issue. What do arguments that imply that disability and by extension any significant amount of suffering makes one's life worthless or meaningless, what are these arguments doing to suicide rates? Think before you speak and don't assume you must praise something just because you have decided that politically it's right for it to be legal.Posted by: MasturDbtorI think that abortion should be allowed at the decision of the mother carrying the child.
I think that abortion should be allowed at the decision of the mother carrying the child, with birth defects and rape being only 2 reasons that might make a woman decide that abortion is right for her. The right to give birth should be in the hands of the person carrying the child, just the same as the right to not raise the child is in her hands. Women should be allowed to control their bodies and terminate a pregnancy when it is safe for her to do so.
Posted by: SilverMathiI support abortion in all cases, so yes, abortion of the grounds of physical deformity should be allowed.
Coming into existence is always a serious harm, as written about in David Benatar's book "Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming Into Existence." Therefore, I believe that all pregnancies should be aborted for the sake of preventing the suffering of the future child. However vain or cruel the fact that physical deformity may be seen as undesirable, those circumstances are reason enough for the future life to never be woken from its slumber.
Posted by: 5h035ConYes. Abortion is a woman's right no matter the reason.
Women should have the right to get an abortion regardless of the reason. If a fetus is physically deformed or not, according to the laws in this country, a woman has a right to get an abortion. In religions that have political affiliations where it is deeply scorned those women should get a special dispensation of some sort so that they can avoid having to bear and care for a child that has physical deformities.
Posted by: PinkMychAbortion should be allowed in any circumstance including a circumstance where the baby may be deformed.
There should never be a problem with how someone wants to manage their family as long as it is within the bounds of the law. Abortion is a constitutionally legal medical procedure and it should be not be shunned in any instance regardless of someone's political or religious affiliation. We should never run around and begin telling other people how they should manage their family just because your religion or political affiliation tells you to do so.
Posted by: R3ubHockeyI do agree that you should be allowed to have an abortion based on physical deformity if you feel it's in the child's best interest.
There are certain physical conditions that can lead to a life time of pain, stress, and sadness. I feel like this a great decision that a family would have to weigh out all the pros and cons. I remember the conjoined twins who spent their whole life wanting to be separated and died trying to make their dream come down. Knowing that your child may never be accepted fully in society can be a tough thing to live with.
Posted by: C0ImEIite
Abortion on the grounds of physical deformity should not be allowed because abortion should only be allowed in very limited circumstances.
Abortions are being used a little too frivolously in this day and age. There are women who actually use abortion as a form of birth control. There should be more of a tightening on the rules regarding who can get an abortion instead of allowing more reasons to do them. Abortions should only be limited to cases where the mother's life is in danger or if she got pregnant due to a sexual assault.
Posted by: eyeslikethatI do not support abortion on the grounds of physical deformity as all human life should be valued in spite of our differences.
Abortion on the grounds of deformity physical or otherwise should not be justifiable. Who is qualified to determine if a physical deformity in an unborn child renders them a valueless member of society? Secondly who decides which physical deformities are acceptable and worthy of the right to life. Many individuals with physical deformities have contributed in unbelievable ways to society, Stephen Hawking is an obvious example.
Posted by: R3n5God2iIIaPhysical deformity is not a legitimate reason.
I was born with a talipes, or club foot. It causes me significant pain, and I frequently have to attend hospital appointments. Yet I have not had a lesser life than a perfectly healthy person of the same age. I am no less of a human. Many physical deformities can be fixed with surgery if you are concerned, but it should certainly not be a reason to kill the child.
Posted by: AnonymousUnless it is to save the mother's life, I do not believe abortion should ever be allowed.
Killing a baby is killing a baby, no matter what excuse you use to do
it. Having a deformity does not mean the baby should be destroyed. Many
people live with all kinds of problems and defects, and they lead happy
lives. Look at Stephen Hawking, a prime example of someone who took
advantage of the sheer fact that he is alive, no matter what the challenge.Posted by: MarsBIueI can not support this idea, because sometimes those babies turn out fine.
Before I was born, my mother's doctor told her to abort me because I was a high-risk baby, and chances were high that I would be deformed. I was born with all ten fingers, all ten toes, and perfectly formed. That doctor was wrong, and many deformities can be lived with, with little to no problems for the person with them.
Posted by: elinuaAbortion, under almost all circumstances, should not be allowed.
The only situation in which abortion should be a consideration is if the mother's life is in jeopardy because of the pregnancy. Physical deformity is no reason to take away the life of a baby. Do we kill individuals who become physically deformed because of illness or injury? No, we don't. So, why shouldn't the growing life of a baby be afforded just as much protection? On another note, physical deformity doesn't have anything to do with a person's worth. A physically deformed child shouldn't be thrown away, and neither should a child who is not physically deformed. Both lives are worth just as much, and each deserves the chance to thrive. And each one can, physical deformity or not. How would one define physical deformity? A club foot, a cleft palate, an extra finger, small genitals, a big head? Where would it stop?
Posted by: gnorknikOnly God has the right to determine life or death.
Since we cannot create life (procreation is NOT creating ) we should not take life. God is sovereign over His creation. If we start deciding who should live and who should die with respect to the unborn child, it will haunt us when we get older and others decide that we ourselves should no longer live as we are simply "useless mouths" and take up precious resources.
Posted by: AnonymousIt should not be allowed because it is morally still wrong.
The bible says that human life is sacred, so it should be preserved in all cases. Should we kill everyone with a deformed leg, down syndrome or only four fingers? Definitely not. You could argue that a fetus is not a human, but it is actually a human. A fetus has its own DNA, human genes, and is definitely alive. Its not a cat, dog, horse, or bacteria. It is not a parasite either because a parasite has to be a different species than its host.
Posted by: AnonymousI am against abortion solely for the fact the child has been determined to not be physically perfect, as this isn't a decision that is in our hands morally.
Conception doesn't start once a child enters the world, it begins once the child starts to develop. Once it is determined that a child isn't going to be a "perfect" child, he is already a human being. To take away his right to life is murder. If the parents don't feel capable of caring for such a child, there are many alternatives available as well as people who will take very good care of such a precious human being.
Posted by: Z FryeNo, babies shouldn't be physically profiled to justify killing them.
Ending someone's life, taking away their future, because they are less than perfect in your eyes is immoral. Abortion shouldn't be legal - accept for cases where the mother's life is in jeopardy. And, it definitely shouldn't be used to weed out the 'less than desirable'. If someone doesn't want to raise that child, than there should be organizations that are in place to address this issue. No one should be made to raise a child if they don't want to. The sad truth is that some people find it easier to live with the fact that they ended their child's life than to go on knowing that there's a child out there that they gave away. Ending a baby's life to soothe another's emotions, or because the baby is seen as imperfect is not right.
Posted by: MohaI0v35Unless the child cannot physically survive outside the womb, abortion solely due to physical deformity should not be allowed.
Women should not be allowed to get abortions just because the baby might have a physical deformity. I think there should be an allowance if it would be painful for the baby to be born and not be able to physically survive. For instance, there are deformities that cause the baby to die once they take their first breath - in these cases, abortion should be allowed so it is not cruel to the baby.
Posted by: BGrahamNo one should be killed because of deformities.
No one should be killed because of deformities. What if Helen Keller, Ray Charles, or conjoined twins were put to death? No Judge or any other person has the right to play God. We need to act more like human beings and not like wild beasts. We need to learn to be caring people and help each other instead of destroying each other.
Posted by: AnonymousNo, are these people less human because they are born less perfect than the normal rest of us?
If you ask severely handicapped people if they preferred not to have ever been born, the majority say that they are glad to be alive. Why kill someone because of a physical deformity? Does that automatically mean that they wished they had never been born? Most people choose to live even with severe handicaps, so why not let the unborn deformed child experience life instead of death?
Posted by: NettN355Abortion, under any circumstances, shouldn't be allowed.
Abortion should be completely illegal, because it is taking away a life. Through free will in an imperfect world, we have created the chances for physical deformity. When it comes to births, we shouldn't play God. Instead, we should let him have full control over the situation.
Posted by: ToyMatt