Aspies For Freedom

I found this comment on a site. It made me wonder if parents of autistic kids are offered sex selection by doctors, and how often this may happen.
I was also concerned to read that this woman admits she would have aborted her son is she knew he would have severe autism.

"I don't want to offend anyone and I'm probably in the minority here, but if I could have known that my son would have severe autism I would not have had him. And I DO adore him, I'd love to know him with his personality without autism. Its not because of how hard MY life is (although you wouldn't know that reading B&D thread ) but I think life for him is confusing and difficult and god knows about when we're not here..... I thought Easy's posts were interesting and good to hear a different angle. With No 2 we did have the option of finding out the sex (autism 4x in boys vs girls) and our Prof would have supported termination of boy if we'd wanted on basis of psychological issues etc as autism can't be identified in-utero (or for years after by some Drs ). We didn't find out though but we seriously considered it, and out popped a girl! Still not end of worry as I have a sister with aspergers but very encouraging so far. I have asked firends with DS kids if they knew beforehand but not because I think they shouldn't have had them as I really don't think that, just out of interest and to get to understand them better."

The fact that her sister has AS shows a genetic link there, yet she still would have aborted.

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1373...0815202123

If it's true that so many more males than females have autism, this situation could be a veritable time bomb as it would be male foetuses in particular that would be targeted.

It certainly sets a very dangerous precedent.

I sure as hell don't like it, more death is never good...

Logicalconclusion

I think those tests should be banned, from medical practice.

Banned, no.

But people should be properly educated, instead of the current state of "AHH! Ohmigod, Autism-is-so-scary!!!"

abortions are wrong, i mean let the child live, give it to an orphanage of abandon it if you want but LET THE CHILD LIVE!

No, there is nothing wrong with abortion, however, it should not be abused in such a way as to prevent a certain type of persons birth, IE: Downs or Autism.

That would be an opinion.

Vicious cycle.

Omigod-- my unborn kid could have autism.  Life is "so bad" for autistics, I'd better have an abortion.

Having an abortion is not making life any better for autistics, though.

There are others who think....

Life is what you make it.... don't make value judgments

And the message slowly gets out.... making value judgments about someone else's life is wrong.

A happy cycle.

Pity it's all based in the assumption that autism affects more boys than girls... I think that's entirely false, and it's really that boys are four times more likely to get DIAGNOSED, while the girls are written off as shy and "not trying".

yes, sex selection IS a form of eugenics - just look at China.  One kid each and everybody wanted a son.  But if you and your neighbour and your neighbour's neighbour all have sons, where are the daughters for the sons to marry?  Now they have growing problems with uneven sexual demographics.

Abandon it? That is never an appropriate thing to do to a child. In my opinion, if a person knows they are not going to be able and not want to care for the child they are carrying, the most humane thing they can do is terminate the pregnancy while the fetus has no consciousness and cannot feel pain. It seems like every week on the radio I hear stories about police finding dead babies (sometimes over a year in age) wrapped in trash bags and thrown into dumpsters... Honestly, can anyone say that is a less cruel way to get rid of an unwanted child?