{PB{!0000{!1111{!?0CE{4     Should We or Shouldn't We...
          Handicapped Babies

{8              By Typhoid

{2Here I am with another "controversial"
idea,  asking  for  your  views.   The
question  is  this:   if a woman gives
birth  and  the  doctor  tells her the
child is disabled, should she have the
right to end the baby's life there and
then?

Some  would argue that this is murder,
but is it justified?  Say the child is
allowed  to live.  If it is physically
disabled, such as being paralysed from
the  neck  down, it will have to learn
to  accept  that it will be so for the
rest of its life.  Or if it's mentally
handicapped,  and  won't mature beyond
the  age  of three, imagine the strain
on  the  parents,  having  to care for
someone  who will never grow to lead a
life  of their own, and who will never
be  able to have a proper conversation
with  them.   Needless  to  say,  I am
looking   at   the  subject  from  the
vantage  point  of the parent.  If you
are   handicapped   yourself  you  may
strongly  disagree  with  me, life for
you  may be particularly pleasant, but
what  if it weren't?  Is it acceptable
for  a  parent,  after going through a
whole  pregnancy and giving birth to a
handicapped  child, to say "Forget it.
I'll try again for a normal child."?

Your  views  please!   {?PARTICULARLY{2 if
you're handicapped yourself.

                                  End. 