Quote:
Originally posted by Sidd Finch
I suspect that abortion of fetuses with Down's Syndrome or other detectable and severe developmental problems is disproportionately high in places other than China and India. Like in the US.
Once a woman reaches her late 30s -- I think it's 36 -- she is likely, if not required, to be screened during pregnancy for Down's Syndrome and several other serious developmental problems. That's because the incidence of such conditions begins to climb at that age (and increases to a really scary level within a few years). The process of this test leads people who would not otherwise consider having an abortion to consider it -- in other words, to consider terminating a pregnancy that was planned and desired, because they don't want to bring severely disabled child into the world. I have personally been through this discussion, though thankfully the tests were all negative and the decision we'd reached didn't have to be put into effect. And I know that I'm not alone in this. (In fact a friend recently went through the same process, but had to follow through with her decision.)
So, to answer your question -- I'm sure the incidence of Down's is lower than it would be because of abortion. I doubt that this trend began as early as 1973, however, because the testing procedures have gotten much more sophisticated and accurate in more recent years. And the overall incidence may well be up since, say, the 60s, because of other factors -- most importantly, more women waiting until they are in their late 30s or older to get pregnant.
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Thanks Sidd. I think you are right. The person I am closest to in the world is a late-30's sister who is currently pregnant. She's been through a lot (not like, battered-wife/divorced/orphaned a lot, but like warzones/caring for dying parent(s) while raising young daughter and working as sworn police officer a lot). She used to be pro-choice til she had her daughter. Now she's fiercely pro-life.
Giving credit where credit is due, Sebby and others said a pro-life Catholic is someone who is pro-Life until they have a reason to have an abortion.
The most uncomfortable conversation I've had with her in probably 3 or 4 years was her telling me about the gender/medical likelihoods testing during pregnancy. She wouldn't say it, but it was implicit in the conversation that if the fetus tested for Down's syndrome etc... we were both going to hell for even thinking what we were thinking. So we just didn't say it, but it was there. Believe me, when people like me are having these thoughts, I can't help but wonder if anyone is having handicapped kids anymore. Which is why I asked FWIW.
Someone oughta do a study on this.
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