Aspies For Freedom

British pro-life leaders say autism tests could lead to more abortion

Published: 2004-04-26

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) -- British pro-life leaders said media reports that autism could be diagnosed in the womb will lead to more abortions. Jack Scarisbrick, chairman of the pro-life organization Life, said the reports of the study, conducted by Cambridge University, were a "very dangerous development." "Be under no illusion -- it will lead to more abortion," he said in an April 19 statement. Scarisbrick said he was concerned parents would be under increasing pressure to abort fetuses diagnosed with autism, a developmental disorder that affects the functioning of the brain.

That's quite worrying...Who could do such a thing? Wait I have the answer to that...

...Any right-wing group! Or centre-wing! Or Left-wing!

Hmmm....

Darn.

At least they can't impose their ignorance onto their autistic children... Nah, that's a bad view! We're for gaining acceptance! Not that.

How late in the pregnancy could they detect Autism?

I'm not against this as long as it's detected early enough (not that I'm 100% sure of when is early enough)

Blame the pro-choice crowd. Abortion is a converstial issue. I don't have a stance on it yet. Mostly, I believe it should be used only in rape or unwanted sex. That's my stand currently. Let me remind you, that I'm only 14.

i agree....  like how do they know the babys not aware in there?  they could be murdering someone before they even see light =(

how do they know the babys not aware in there? they could be murdering someone before they even see light =(

Which is worse though, aborting (killing) a foetus or bringing it into a world where it won't be loved or cared for?

isn't that what aff is for?  to help make it better for auts lol

my views on abortion:
it's perfectly alright so long as there is no detectable brain activity. my reason behind this is that human life is only special because of our capability to have thoughts and feelings, before the brain starts functioning the foetus is just a big pile of organic matter.
what i am against though is eugenics: selectively aborting based on certain traits. if abortion was used for autism, to me that would be genocide.

isn't that what aff is for? to help make it better for auts lol

Yeah sorry, I nearly went off on one. I was involved in a debate about abortion on an NT site recently and people managed to enormously piss me off with mind games rather than sensible debate.

Weather is spiffing at the mo though, could do with a drop more rain maybe...

I'm in agreement with you there I take a scientific view of everything, and I see no reason why preventing a life from coming into existence should be regarded as murder (after all, there are an infinite number of people failing to exist all the time :idea: )

It's not genocide if you're not actually killing anyone, imo. I don't see where you get that conclusion from.

Sooner or later genetic engineering of humans will be a reality, and the human race as we know it may cease to exist. Nobody will say it's "genocide".

it's perfectly alright so long as there is no detectable brain activity.

*Insert cheap reference to NT's here*

Hi davixen, if you look on our front page, and click library section you will see a letter we had from Simon Baron-Cohen showing us some support. Hope he can give us some more info, and very glad to hear hes helping you.  

Well he ignored my email on synaesthesia so I wouldnt be too hopeful.

It's Eugenics though if you abort a feotus because it's Autistic. Also because there are Autistics that not only want to remain Autistic, but for there to be other Autistics as well, it is genocide though the majority would of course not see it as such.