Article on abortion by Rachel Johnson (I know, I know)

[emkana]

I'll get straight to the point and say that it is this paragraph that I mainly have a problem with:

And as for late-term abortions, there is no evidence that these are being sought for trifles such as webbed toes alone. There were 136 terminations beyond 24 weeks in 2006. All of them were for what is called a ?ground E? case ? meaning if the child was born, it would be seriously handicapped.

What I don't like about it is that she just says "seriously handicapped", as if that was a clear and precise definiton of something. What counts as "seriously handicapped"? I know that we were given the option to terminate the pregnancy when we were having ds - all he has is a type of dwarfism! So what is "seriously handicapped"? This is just sloppy writing isn't it?

As someone who has chosen to terminate a pregnancy for fetal abnormality, albeit at twelve weeks in my case, I find it difficult when I hear comments about how the legislation should be changed in regard to late abortions.
I have heard such heartbreaking stories of women who have decided to end their pregnancies late on. The women I know, did not take their decisions lightly, and certainly not for minor problems in their baby's development. To comment 'that late abortions need to be considered carefully on a case by case basis by people who are experienced' implies that this isn't happening already, when it is. Obviously I am sensitive to the issue because of my own experiences, but there are so many things to discuss about abortion (i.e why there are so many teen abortions, should women have easier access to abortions so the procedure is performed earlier etc.) that I do wish there was less focus on a vulnerable group of people who are trying to cope with the death of their babies

majormoo, I am sorry to read that you went through such a difficult time. I see your point, but my own experience tells me that at a very vulnerable time sometimes women (and men!) are told that terminating the pregnancy would be an option when they are not in a fit state of mind to make an informed decision. In our case we were offered the termination when the condition our son has (a type of dwarfism) is certainly on the mild end of disability, if you want to call it a disability at all. Before it was known that my ds had dwarfism the doctors thought he only had ventriculomegaly, in this condition 60 % of children develop normally. Nevertheless we were told we could have an abortion just on the offchance. I find that shocking and very sad.