With the new technology in the
medical industry, one of the most impressive new advancements is the ability to
detect birth defects months before birth. The screenings and tests came about relatively
with the rise of ultrasounds and amniocentesis. Scientists have come to
understand some scientific truths from this controversial technology. The main
truth that they discuss is the accuracy of screening and diagnostic tests,
which respectively check for the chance of a specific birth defect and then if
the baby actually has it.
Although we can use science to
detect birth defects, we are stuck in two different controversies. First, these
tests are not always accurate, so parents could be stuck thinking that your
child is going to have a birth defect. Secondly, it is a bit unethical to
implement options past detection due to the societal debate of abortion. It is
no longer in the realm of science to decide if abortion should be offered after
detection. This is more a conversation for those who are of opinion compared to
truth. One side of this ethical debate is that the tests are not that accurate,
so abortion should not be considered due to the chance that birth could
continue normally. On the other hand, according to some OB/GYNs, birth defects
that are fatal are detected early during pregnancy, and many people would agree
that abortion is the an ethical choice.
Personally, I feel like it is
immoral to get an abortion solely because the fetus has a birth defect.
However, if the parents do not feel like they can support the baby with the condition
it has, then it makes sense to get an abortion.
Therefore, the baby will not be put in a situation where it could be
raised poorly and not have the care it needs.
http://www.aaplog.org/american-issues-2/late-term-abortion/is-late-term-abortion-ever-necessary/
Aaron, this topic is extremely controversial but I think you make very valid points in your reaction to birth defect testing. It is true that if parents find out their child may have a birth defect, they could be mistaken due to unreliable test results, and, in turn, these parents may consider an abortion. While this may be beneficial to those parents in the long run as they cannot take care of this child, but also the child may suffer through life, which these parents would spare that child. The possibility of this sparks heated debates in politics, I'm sure, but I think this is a great way science is able to cause major political controversy as well as show how science forces us to ask questions of ethics and morals.
ReplyDeleteThe topic of abortion has been very controversial for a long time. Although it is amazing that we now have the technology that is capable of detecting a birth defect before birth, it opens up an even greater debate on abortion. Some people may be more inclined to have an abortion if they find out that their child will be born with a birth defect. Yes, this helps if the person can not physically and economically care for a person with a defect, but detecting birth defects is not always accurate. Therefore, it is unfair that people have the choice given the fact that it may not be the correct outcome. In my opinion, I think it is the person's choice to have an abortion, but I do not like how this technology causes a larger debate.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard not to let personal opinion influence get carried away on topics such as this. The technology of being able to determine birth defects is like a catch 22. Yes it could help prepare the parents for a new special life to enter their lives, but also what if the tests were actually negative or that they end up deciding they are incapable of taking care of the child? Personally I think that if you decide to have a child you should accept it for the gift that he/she is and not give up just because they are different/disabled. I agree with Aaron that it is immoral to have an abortion because of a birth defect, but if it is life threatening then I think the decision should be something that they are willing to live with. But then again, this is a topic that is highly sensitive and will vary per person based on their beliefs and values.
ReplyDeleteThe points that you make in this post are very valid. I agree that it can be entirely unethical to abort a fetus based on the birth defects it may or may not have. However, as technology continues to grow, and we have more and more ways to detect these types of defects, there will likely be more accurate results of the tests. Then we must ask ourselves the real questions of ethics based on whether the parents are willing to raise a child with birth defects the same way that they would raise a "normal" child, knowing that they could have opted out of it. It is at this point that the legislation covering these ideas will become more and more complicated to regulate.
ReplyDeleteThis topic is very close to my heart because when I was a baby I had a major birth defect that doctors constantly said to my mother that she should abort me. It wasn't worth the risk and I would die anyway. They said I would never walk, nor would I have the mental capacity to function regularly in society. Obviously they were wrong. So, I think offering the choice shows the strength of a good parent to keep the child or release them. However, doctors are not always right. And that is often overlooked. But your post had many valid points. And I appreciate the look at the topic. I agree that it is immoral to offer that option, but there are many benefits to it, and ultimately it should be a choice that parents have to make. After all, if they cannot love their child unconditionally, or do not have the resources to raise them properly, it should be their decision until we have a system that would take care of the baby if they can not raise it themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think you wrote about a very controversial topic in a well-written and thoughtful manner. This is a heated topic in both the political and religious realms, and you managed to provide an unbiased overview of the topic. I agree that it is unethical to abort a fetus based on claims that could be either accurate or inaccurate. However, I believe that when this technology improves (as it should in the future) and predictions become more accurate, abortion should become a valid consideration for fetuses with fatal birth defects.
ReplyDeleteAaron,
ReplyDeleteAbortion is an extremely controversial topic, and it relates to something I wrote about as well: stem cells. I like how you handled the topic and you clearly stated the two differing sides of the argument to leave little room for confusion. I had never really thought of the implications these technologies could have on people's behavior. I agree with your opinion at the end. Though we may be able to 'detect' birth effects, there is still too much room for error where a doctor could end up aborting a child that would be fine when born. Unless the child has a birth defect that makes giving birth extremely difficult and makes the chance of the baby's surivival miniscule, then I think under those circumstances you could decide to abort the pregnancy.