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Seven babies aborted because of cleft palate (last year in the UK)
The Telegraph ^ | 7/4/11

Posted on 07/04/2011 6:25:39 AM PDT by markomalley

The data was among newly released statistics showing the number of late abortions which was made public after a High Court ruling.

No late abortions were carried out for cleft palate but the figures showed seven pregnancies were terminated before 24 weeks for that reason.

There were 147 terminations carried out after the 24 weeks gestation period.

Abortion is legal in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy for disability reasons but also if the pregnancy poses a risk to the mother's mental health.

After 24 weeks, an abortion is allowed only if there is substantial risk of 'serious' physical or mental abnormality, or the mother's life is in danger.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: abortion; moralabsolutes; prolife
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To: TheOldLady; markomalley
I know several plastic surgeons who routinely repair cleft palates at no cost for families who cannot afford it and don't have insurance. It is an extremely easy condition to repair and the scars fade completely by the time the child is old enough for school.
21 posted on 07/04/2011 10:42:40 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee

That is great to hear.
We were so afraid when we first learned that our son Reagan is going to be born with a cleft lip.
The doctors act like it’s a huge deal and freak you out about the baby.
My father in law is a dentist and he acts like this is not ideal, but certainly is nothing to panic over. He says it will be fixed quickly and very nicely.
I’m starting to think that much of the prenatal screening and testing funnels women to abortion as an option.
Makes me sick.


22 posted on 07/04/2011 11:11:59 AM PDT by Clump (the tree of liberty is withering like a stricken fig tree)
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To: markomalley

And so easily fixed with simple surgery. And some are not as severe as the illustration, either.


23 posted on 07/04/2011 11:16:04 AM PDT by little jeremiah (Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. CSLewis)
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To: markomalley

Unfortunately, sometimes it’s an easy way out for the doctor. In a highly pro-abortion newspaper several years ago, I read of a case where a woman had gone in to have a sonogram, in which the child was found to be hydrocephalic. Instead of having treatment options presented, everyone involved seemed determined to convince this woman that the case was hopeless and she should have an abortion ASAP (which she did). I think the reason for the story was to try to portray the pro-life position as rigid and uncompromising, through this example of a couple confronting a tragic situation where there were no alternatives to abortion.

Yet there are a number of surgical fixes available for hydrocephaly. Experts in fetal surgery can put a shunt in the skull to relieve pressure, if it is deemed that the pressure might cause brain damage if the condition isn’t treated before birth. It looks like the article left out this information because they wanted to lead readers to a predetermined conclusion.

For a doctor who doesn’t care about human life, or who believes that only perfect people have a right to life, the answer is obvious. Abortion is cheaper and easier than referring a patient to a specialist and working out a treatment plan. Technically, any treatment plan developed is a lot more challenging and involved than killing the kid.


24 posted on 07/04/2011 11:20:09 AM PDT by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
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To: Clump
> My son is unborn and about 3 months from delivery. The sonogram shows a cleft lip.
The doctors kept insisting that we do amniocentesis to see if there is a chromosome problem.
There are no other indicators that there is any problem with this baby...
... im asking fellow freepers to please keep him in your prayers.

I'm happy to do so.

May God grant your son and the rest of your family health, strength, and peace of mind to deal with whatever problems there may be, and may they be resolved satisfactorily without too much trouble. Bless you for your decision.

25 posted on 07/04/2011 11:58:21 AM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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To: markomalley
Fairly easy to fix surgically. I'm sure the UK National Health Service covers it.

Maybe that's not really the reason for these abortions?

26 posted on 07/04/2011 12:07:03 PM PDT by Salman
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To: the invisib1e hand

I remember a few kids in my elementary school who were born with cleft palate and had it surgically repaired. They looked fine and they were doing well. This is a shocking example of extreme disregard for life.


27 posted on 07/04/2011 12:15:42 PM PDT by socialism_stinX (We need a decline of statism and a revival of individualism and personal responsibility in America.)
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To: Salman
Fairly easy to fix surgically. I'm sure the UK National Health Service covers it.

But what is more expensive? The reconstructive surgery to fix cleft palette, or an abortion?

The NHS does, after all, have money problems.

(NB: that should not be read as a defense, but rather to explain a very possible line of thought)

28 posted on 07/04/2011 12:29:37 PM PDT by markomalley (Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good-Pope Leo XIII)
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To: markomalley

Good point.

But does the NHS require abortions in such cases? Because saving money for the NHS will not form part of the parents’ choice.


29 posted on 07/04/2011 12:41:26 PM PDT by Salman
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To: Salman
But does the NHS require abortions in such cases? Because saving money for the NHS will not form part of the parents’ choice.

No, but if they encourage it, then the mission is accomplished in many cases:

Imagine this exchange...

Miss Doe, your baby's ultrasound indicates he will have a cleft palette.

Now you have some options:

  • You can try to do a in utero operation. This has shown some promise, but in far too many cases, you will lose the baby and you may not be able to get pregnant again, especially if that happens. You could also die from blood loss.
  • You could wait until after your baby is born. If he survives, he will require several very painful surgeries and will always be somewhat scarred for life. Now you know how cruel schoolchildren can be toward other children with deformities, but if you remain protective of your child, he should almost be able to live a normal life.
  • Or, you could prevent all of these troubles for both you and your child and could terminate the pregnancy now. As you know, the child doesn't really start to have thought until about the 24th week and so there would be no pain for either him or you. It's a very routine procedure that many women are happy with.

Now we are not trying to push you in any direction, but we can have the termination done with this visit. Otherwise, you will have to schedule surgery. Hopefully the lines won't be too long and, particularly if you want the in utero surgery, we hope that a table could be arranged in the proper time. You know how scheduling works.

No pressure, but we really do need to know your decision before you leave this appointment.

 

If anybody asks, it's the woman's choice, right?

30 posted on 07/04/2011 12:51:11 PM PDT by markomalley (Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good-Pope Leo XIII)
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To: markomalley

Sounds very likely now that you mention it.


31 posted on 07/04/2011 1:11:09 PM PDT by Salman
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To: Clump

I’ll be pleased to pray for Reagan, and I know he’ll be repaired good as new shortly after birth. Worry not, dear parents, he’ll be wonderful.

I’m Grandma to a 3 week old baby girl named Reagan. Her 3 year old brother was born with spina bifida, a serious birth defect of the spine that has cost him normal use of his legs and many other problems. He is a beautiful, smart, happy boy. We can’t imagine our lives without him, and his existence has blessed many people.

We must make sure the lives of such little ones are protected from the bureaucratic minions in a national healthcare system.


32 posted on 07/04/2011 10:58:29 PM PDT by ntnychik
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To: Clump; exDemMom

I’ll be pleased to pray for Reagan, and I know he’ll be repaired good as new shortly after birth. Worry not, dear parents, he’ll be wonderful.

I’m Grandma to a 3 week old baby girl named Reagan. Her 3 year old brother was born with spina bifida, a serious birth defect of the spine that has cost him normal use of his legs and many other problems. He also has a shunt to alleviate hydrocephaly. He is a beautiful, smart, happy boy. We can’t imagine our lives without him, and his existence has blessed many people.

We must make sure the lives of such little ones are protected from the bureaucratic minions in a national healthcare system.


33 posted on 07/04/2011 11:06:13 PM PDT by ntnychik
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To: Clump

Prayers lifted for you, your family and the happy arrival of young master Reagan :)

May God bless!
Tatt


34 posted on 07/04/2011 11:14:15 PM PDT by thesearethetimes... ("Courage, is fear that has said its prayers." DorothyBernard)
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To: wagglebee

Can’t imagine if the friend I knew in High School who was born with a Cleft Palate wasn’t here... He’s a great guy! Shame on these people for their selfishness!


35 posted on 07/05/2011 4:23:50 AM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: Clump

Prayers for you and your son! This article astonishes me, frankly...


36 posted on 07/05/2011 4:27:07 AM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: markomalley; Salman

The NHS fixes this sort of problem all the time.

Babies arent aborted here for such a minor problem, very odd. There must have been other factors.


37 posted on 07/05/2011 4:28:54 AM PDT by the scotsman (I)
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To: socialism_stinX
This is a shocking example of extreme disregard for life.

Isn't that an apt description of >99% of all abortions?

38 posted on 07/05/2011 5:22:07 AM PDT by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
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To: markomalley
Pinged from Terri Dailies


39 posted on 07/10/2011 11:13:08 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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