”New form of prenatal testing ends fetal risk” read the Oct. 9 headline. Great news for medical practitioners and, possibly, prospective parents; tough news on both the pro and anti-abortion fronts.
My wife and I, years ago, faced the issue of a later-in-life pregnancy, and agonized over greater risk of having a ”defective” child. Should abortion be considered? At the time, abortions had become legal, but fetal testing had not come on the scene. We opted for the child and were fortunate. But how is that issue to be faced today, when doctors test to protect both fetus and themselves and one knows the prospects ahead of time?
Such testing, and the knowledge it provides, can advance the health of children, especially if the defects are correctable before or shortly after birth. But the prospect is certainly agonizing if one knows the defect is correctable, whether the expectant parent is pro- or anti-abortion.
Can outlawing abortions under such circumstances be the right thing to do?
