Sensible Law on Abortion?
By Diane Provost
Under the heading: "France debates right not to be born," an article appeared in the Christian Science Monitor stating that France's highest appeals court ruled that children with Down syndrome and other disabilities have a legal right never to have been born and one could sue doctors that attended the pregnancy. The ruling demonstrates a view in French society that disabled life is not worth living.
Unbelievable! How many "normal" babies have been and will be aborted because of errors in doctors' diagnosis? A 42-year old acquaintance of mine had waited several years to get pregnant with her first child, only to be told by her doctor that tests showed her baby had Down Syndrome. He advised her to abort; she did not because of her pro-life stand. Pregnancy, which is a joyous time for most mothers, was not for her because of the doctor's diagnosis. Many people prayed for her and declared it a miracle when she had a beautiful, perfectly 'normal' baby girl. What if she had taken the doctor's mistaken advice? How tragic would that have been! I've heard many similar stories.
Should there be another "Sensible Law" in France that would allow parents to sue doctors if they diagnosis birth defects in error? Since the proposal in France is for suing doctors who deliver disabilities, what side of caution do you thing they will error on? I believe they will abort many healthy babies just to play it safe.
It is elitist for the French or any other society to determine that disabled life is not worth living. I know many Down Syndrome people who are more content than many "normal" people that I know. Many "normal," that is, not disabled, are living totally dysfunctional lives in our society, i.e. drug addicts, alcoholics, those whose life choices have brought on chronic depression or anxiety. Many of these people feel life is not worth living. Maybe the word "disabled" should be redefined or expanded to include the dysfunctional. Would the France find a way to diagnosis these maladies before birth and eliminate these "abnormalities," too?
Do we want our children to go through hell on earth? Of course
not. But do we really think any of us know who will be miserable
living and who will not? In my 59 years I've seen many miserable
people who seemed to have everything going for them according to the world's
values. And I've seen others who were poor or suffering with illnesses,
or other of life's hardships who were enthusiastic about living each day.
In reality, no one comes into this world knowing what a "normal" life
is. Their circumstances usually determine what "normal" means to
them. I truly believe that Jesus allows Down Syndrome babies to come
into this world to teach us what real love, kindness, and peaceful living
is all about.
Psalm 139:13-16 says it best: " For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Diane Provost
Secretary for LifeLine C.P.C.
