Abortion

David said:

On News Night there were discussing Abortion which is really a kind of murder of babies.

I have heard that there are plans to abort babies because they are Autistic.

It would be possible to tell if the baby has a gene.

Most Donws Syndrome babies who are born are aborteed.

Is it a bad or good thing to abort babies because they are Autistic?

Does anyone know when it is likely to happen?

May be abortion should be reserved for serious cases of Autism.

David

The only time a Doctor may perform an abortion without the pregnant woman's consent may be in a life-threatening situation where the pregnant woman's life would be in danger if an abortion is not carried out.  In such circumstances, the Doctor may have to seek consent from the next of kin.  Thankfully, these are rare and exceptional circumstances.  In all other cases, it must be the pregnant woman who decides whether or not to abort a pregnancy.  

I personally have not heard of this news story and therefore it is not easy to comment authoritatively.  I wonder whether an antenatal screening test has been discovered, which can reveal whether a pregnant woman has an Autism gene and whether the baby will therefore be born autistic?  I do not know of an existing NHS antenatal screening test for autism or an autistic gene, so it is currently not screened for.  

The problem is autism can vary in its degrees of severity, which may make it extremely difficult to ascetain how autistic somebody may be after they are born.  Besides, some of us were not diagnosed until late in life (aged 34 with Asperger, in my case).  

I would be highly surprised (and worried) if an antenatal screening test becomes a part of the NHS antenatal screening programme!  

As for abortion, it is an emotive subject and both sides of the debate can make good points. However, I believe that calling abortion an act of murder is a little emotive and  medically questionable.  At what stage does a feotus become recognisably human shape?  At what stage does a feotus develop the ability to feel pain (assuming it can ever feel pain)?   At what stage does a feotus start to kick in the womb?  In other words, at what stage would the average person consider the moment the feotus is no longer a feotus but an unborn baby?  

Currently, it is legal in England, Wales and Scotland for a woman to have an abortion up to 24 weeks into her pregnancy.  An abortion can be done later than 24 weeks, but this is usually if the fetous dies in the womb or if there is a major medical emergency and the pregnant woman's life is in immediate danger (as previously mentioned), for example.

Sadly, some women involuntarily abort due to miscarriage, which is something that can happen from time to time and is a sad fact of mother nature.  

Similarly, emergency contraception (IUD or emergency contraceptive pill) can be used up to several hours after sex, which can also cause a fertilised egg to abort by causing an hormonal change, preventing the fertilised egg from attaching itself to the lining of the womb.  

David said:

On News Night there were discussing Abortion which is really a kind of murder of babies.

I have heard that there are plans to abort babies because they are Autistic.

It would be possible to tell if the baby has a gene.

Most Donws Syndrome babies who are born are aborteed.

Is it a bad or good thing to abort babies because they are Autistic?

Does anyone know when it is likely to happen?

May be abortion should be reserved for serious cases of Autism.

David

The only time a Doctor may perform an abortion without the pregnant woman's consent may be in a life-threatening situation where the pregnant woman's life would be in danger if an abortion is not carried out.  In such circumstances, the Doctor may have to seek consent from the next of kin.  Thankfully, these are rare and exceptional circumstances.  In all other cases, it must be the pregnant woman who decides whether or not to abort a pregnancy.  

I personally have not heard of this news story and therefore it is not easy to comment authoritatively.  I wonder whether an antenatal screening test has been discovered, which can reveal whether a pregnant woman has an Autism gene and whether the baby will therefore be born autistic?  I do not know of an existing NHS antenatal screening test for autism or an autistic gene, so it is currently not screened for.  

The problem is autism can vary in its degrees of severity, which may make it extremely difficult to ascetain how autistic somebody may be after they are born.  Besides, some of us were not diagnosed until late in life (aged 34 with Asperger, in my case).  

I would be highly surprised (and worried) if an antenatal screening test becomes a part of the NHS antenatal screening programme!  

As for abortion, it is an emotive subject and both sides of the debate can make good points. However, I believe that calling abortion an act of murder is a little emotive and  medically questionable.  At what stage does a feotus become recognisably human shape?  At what stage does a feotus develop the ability to feel pain (assuming it can ever feel pain)?   At what stage does a feotus start to kick in the womb?  In other words, at what stage would the average person consider the moment the feotus is no longer a feotus but an unborn baby?  

Currently, it is legal in England, Wales and Scotland for a woman to have an abortion up to 24 weeks into her pregnancy.  An abortion can be done later than 24 weeks, but this is usually if the fetous dies in the womb or if there is a major medical emergency and the pregnant woman's life is in immediate danger (as previously mentioned), for example.

Sadly, some women involuntarily abort due to miscarriage, which is something that can happen from time to time and is a sad fact of mother nature.  

Similarly, emergency contraception (IUD or emergency contraceptive pill) can be used up to several hours after sex, which can also cause a fertilised egg to abort by causing an hormonal change, preventing the fertilised egg from attaching itself to the lining of the womb.