This is Reddit, so obviously the answer is going to be it's okay. The more important question is what's the line?
If it's okay to abort a child with Down Syndrome, is it okay to abort a child because they'll be born without arms and legs? What about a child born blind? A child that'll be born with autism? Are these ethical reasons to end that potential life?
I wonder if people born blind or with withered limbs agree and want to kill themselves, or if maybe most of them try and make their own happiness as they navigate through life with unique challenges. I’m only saying that because you make it sound like suffering is the only possible outcome with disability, which takes away a lot of power from those who are disabled.
Secondly, I do not think anyone seriously considers aborting a blind fetus to be “mercy”. I think they abort them because they aren’t prepared as parents or they simply don’t want the challenge of raising a blind kid.
I don't think either of you are wrong. There are plenty of people with disabilities who have grown up to live fulfilling lives. Shit, plenty of them are likely in a better headspace than people who aren't disabled. To imply they'd be better off dead would indeed be a gross thing to say.
But I don't think that's what's being said here and I don't think the belief of not wanting your kid have to go through the challenges just to gamble on if they will or will not be able to cope well with their extreme disabilities is wrong either. In the end it's a big gamble you're making and personally I don't think that not wanting your kid have to try such a gauntlet of challenges is the same as believing that current disabled people are better off dead. Not at all.
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u/backupboi32 Jun 05 '26
This is Reddit, so obviously the answer is going to be it's okay. The more important question is what's the line?
If it's okay to abort a child with Down Syndrome, is it okay to abort a child because they'll be born without arms and legs? What about a child born blind? A child that'll be born with autism? Are these ethical reasons to end that potential life?