[Discussion] After-birth abortion?

[Daki Kibe]

I am pro-choice, but I believe whether they perceive the child as "human" or not makes no difference in this situation because if the parent(s) discovers they are physically and/or emotionally unsuited to parent that child there is another option to consider before choosing something that is borderline murder. Adoption. I believe that if it is a psychological disorder in which the child would need special assistance later in life, the parents could go with either option since children of down syndrome don't necessarily "suffer". If it is a physical condition such as harlequin ichthyosis or muscular dystrophy, in which the child would endure pain just and struggle through life day by day, it might be best for all parties involved. For it to become an option period, yes I agree with it only because I know there are many people out there (myself included) who are born with life-threatening conditions who had no choice in the matter. Because some children wouldn't even experience a life worth living, being born with such conditions, I do not see after-birth abortion as cruel, merely drastic. I also feel that if a baby cannot make the decision for them, then it is the parent's duty to look after the child and rationalize for them. Would they be better off choosing after-birth abortion? Would they be better off living? Ultimately it is the parent's decision and now that the topic has been brought up, it is officially up for debate and would be against our human rights if someone is denied this choice.

The child is by all means human. What raises an issue here is whether the child is liable to full and complete protection from 'borderline murder', as you so rightly put it. A new-born baby has no "voice" of its own; it is a mere breathing entity. Its parents are its decision-makers until it can think for itself, and this is a fact which is respected unanimously. Should it then be protected against after-birth abortion, where its parents decide to forego its life? What makes this decision so much more different than others? [This is a rhetorical question; please refrain from answering it. Since the question of life is involved here, of course the issue will be more controversial, and all the more difficult to come to a consensus on.]

If a parent feels that they cannot cope with the burdens and responsibilities of having a child who is affected with a severe medical condition, adoption should (ideally) be the primary inclination that they have, but obviously opinions differ from person to person, and what I feel is an invalid reason to comply with abortion might be completely acceptable from the parents' point of view.

I think you are right in stating that after-birth abortion is drastic, but a large number of people would also deem it cruel. I personally wouldn't mind if the abortion is carried out for selfless reasons, ie. keeping the baby's life in mind — where its quality of life is valued over life itself, because what is life when you aren't really "living"? But not everyone would look at the matter with a similar mind frame. To some people, the intentional death of another human-being (for whatever reason it may be) is immoral and against the law.