Deaf Baby?

[NotLKH]

Originally posted by chrisjk
When that kid grows up and if/when they find out what happened, it's ganna hate them for it. I would

Originally posted by thinktank2
If they were my parents, I would kill them

Hmm. Interesting.

I don't condone intentionally arranging a disabled child into being
born, However, once born, it would seem to be unlikely that such
a child should regret its life. This child would never have occured
in any other way, and it would seem to be preferable to live with
deafness and "loving" parents, than to never have lived at all.

-Lou

[crptcblade]

One thing people seem to be forgetting is, if the child was never born at all, how could it regret or prefer anything?

[barrk]

I have a handicapped son. I did not plan for him to have it but I knew it was a possibility. I knew there was a chance that one of my children could be as my husband has a genetic disease. I doubt very much that my son either hates me for having him or Tom for passing on the disease. I'm sure he'd rather not have it but he doesn't, I don't and Tom doesn't regret his life!!!!!

I would never wish a handicap on a child and don't condone what these people did but none of you.....even me with my situation....can second guess what the child would feel toward his/her parents for having passed on a defect. If the child is given a good home and loving environment chances are that he would not hate his parents or wish them dead anymore than any other child. It's very easy for all of you to pass judgement.

[CiberTHuG]

I'm sorry for coming in late on this thread, but I am so confused....

A lesbian couple has two children. Are these children of natural birth (artificial insemination?) or adopted?

If they are of birth, what steps did the parents take to try and have deaf children?

Just reading the initial comments, I thought that two deaf people decided to adopt two deaf children. Which makes perfect sense to me, though I don't see deafness as a "cultural identity". It affects the way in which you percieve the world and adapt to it. Do I have a cultural identity because I'm dizzy?

I could see signing as being a cultural trait, but you don't have to be deaf to sign.

[crptcblade]

I think the story goes...

Two deaf lesbians found a man with a genetic disposition for deafness. One or the other was impregnated(artifically or naturally I don't know) specfically trying to have a deaf child.

[NotLKH]

Originally posted by crptcblade
...One or the other was impregnated(artifically or naturally I don't know) ...

Hope it wasn't the guy!
Ouch!

[crptcblade]

Originally posted by NotLKH

Hope it wasn't the guy!
Ouch!

Hey, if Arnold can do it, anyone can!

[CiberTHuG]

Sorry, the link to the BBC news (which I thought was part of his signature at first) sheds light on the whole thing.

So this was a "designer baby".

Well...

once you allowed couples to have choice over what their baby was like, it was not possible to attack the choices people then made.

So the question shouldn't be, "was it right for these people to choose to have a deaf child at the loss of all others", but "should any parent be allowed to dictate the criteria a child must meet as part of the conception-to-birth process". This is a huge can of worms that should not have been opened, yet.

I think this is a moral issue and not an ethical one. As such, the government should not make any attempts to bridge the rights of these parents. It is all or nothing. Either it is unethical to use this technology at all, or it is ethically acceptable. But as to the moral uses of this technology... sorry... that is up to individuals to decide and try to help others make the same decision.

Just my random thought, take it or leave it.