2013-03-07, 07:53 PM
Curtiss Wrote:[MENTION=152]Heidi[/MENTION]; Except given that the egg wasn't hers either, she didn't have enough money to support the child and she still ended up giving the baby to another family that pretty much says she should not have had a choice in it. Hormones and motherly didn't come into play yet when she signed the contract too and she likely had to also rely on the money surrogacy was giving her so by all means she should have had to obey rather than drag things out in this way.
Like I said, people don't really think of these things when they sign contracts; it is always "it will never happen to me". Human nature right there. Yes, they didn't come into play when she signed the contract, but they most certainly would have when the decision actually had to be made.
Also, she's clearly a religious woman who believes that no matter what, abortion is wrong. Good for her, that's what she believes, and it will be for good reason. I don't agree with that entirely (I'd consider abortion if I was in her situation, given the extent of the abnormalities although I'd still be very uncomfortable about it), but I respect that it is her belief.
It's irrelevant to this debate, but the thing that really annoys me about abortions is all the people who want to kill healthy unborn children that they brought into this world through carelessness. Life is a very precious thing. The ethical issues and laws surrounding very sick people are a problem; I was unfortunate enough to have to watch my own father suffer with a terminal illness for 4 years (he finally passed away last year). There is a big mess surrounding whether or not people in such situations should be kept alive as long as possible, or just kept comfortable. Babies born with conditions that mean they will never be able to leave the hospital and will never be able to enjoy life at all are probably best put to rest before they are even born. But it's impossible to draw a line as to what is worth saving and what isn't, as we can never even be sure, and there are plenty of doctors that don't know what they're talking about anyway.
In these cases, I don't think it would have at all been wrong to get an abortion, but I don't think it was wrong to refuse it either.
Overall, I feel bad for everybody involved. It was a tough situation to be in, and everybody was only trying to do what they believed was right. I can see a lot of arguments both ways, so where I stand is really just saying that it is unfortunate the situation came up in the first place.
This very strongly reminds me of the case of Baby K. Again, this was a child with a very serious health condition, most of her brain was missing, she'd never be conscious, yet she was kept alive for quite awhile. At least in her case, she probably never suffered due to not having the parts of her brain necessary for that. If she'd been my child, I think I would have wanted to just let her go as it was obvious she'd never get anywhere in life without most of her brain. But I can understand why other people wouldn't want to do that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_K
I have a good friend who was adopted at birth. One of the most successful people I know. I wish that more people who get pregnant who don't want the child would consider the option of adoption at birth rather than abortion.
Just saying this, as I don't want people thinking that I support the surrogate mother and am against the "natural" parents like I may have implied.