Extra Toe? Mild Disease? Let's Kill the Kid!

Hey, you know all this prenatal testing for mild deformities is really helping people out. It is a benefit for us so that we can "prevent" these problems from occurring in our children. I didn't really understand what they meant until recently.

Do you know what they mean?

You can "prevent" a problem from happening to your child by killing it before it emerges from the womb. Problem solved! Ta-Da! Just wait a month to recover and then try again for that perfect baby. Aren't you glad for modern science?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20841358

Actually, I *am* glad for modern science, but only to a point. And this news story is sure past that point...

I've heard of other parents of children with autism who are maybe more purist than I am, who say that they would NEVER change their child with an operation or drug if one were found to practically "cure" the autism. I would beg to differ for my family, anyway.

What if there were a medicine that would make him well if taken on a regular basis, rather like insulin for a diabetic? What if there were a surgery that would minimize the effects of autism to a great degree? Would you do that for your child? Well, if it's your child I suppose you get to decide, but I would do whatever I could to help my child overcome his disability, even if that meant a change in my child's personality or outlook. Think of his being able to hold down a job, to understand what people mean in general conversation... to have a chance at living a "normal" life...

Now, killing is not a cure. See the difference? I can't believe I'm even trying to explain this. What a crazy world we live in!!