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Would You Abort A Special Child?
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 Is a special child any less of a child than a normal one? Is it ok to abort a foetus that has some defects because you are not equipped to raise a special child? Is it fair to bring a special child into the world if you are not ready to accept it and give it unconditional love?
When the newly married Haresh and Niketa Mehta found out that they would be parents soon they were naturally overjoyed. They started shopping for the baby. They even decided on which school they would like to admit their child to. Niketa started doing yoga regularly to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
When Niketa was in the 23rd week of her pregnancy, her gynaecologist told her that the foetus had a complete congenital heart blockage and mal-positioned arteries that could, require a pacemaker implantation soon after birth. The Mehtas knew that they didn't have the finances to raise a special child. They felt that they shouldn't give birth to a child who would suffer from health problems throughout his / her life.
Law in India unlike some other countries however doesn't permit abortion of a foetus which has crossed 20 weeks. The Mehtas could have easily gone to a quack or illegal clinic to abort the baby. Instead they dared to walk the legal path and question India's abortion laws. With the help of their gynaecologist they petitioned at the Mumbai High Court against the prevailing law to show that the child once born faced a substantial risk of severe physical and mental challenges. The court however turned down their plea for abortion.
Niketa Mehta suffered a miscarriage in the 27th week of her pregnancy. The miscarriage, the couple reported was hard for them. Niketa would cry on recalling the face of the foetus, she said that the baby had her complexion. Nevertheless, the couple was relieved that they didn't after all have to bring a physically / mentally challenged child into the world.
If you discover that you are carrying a special child, will or won't you continue the pregnancy? Psychiatrist Dr. Shefali Batra's professional opinion is, "Aborting a special child has moral as well as legal implications, besides the medical aspects; hence making it a very difficult question indeed. The unborn child is regarded as a human being and has every right to life. However, medical law adds that prior to 20 weeks the personhood of the foetus is not established, hence the decision to terminate lies with the mother of the child to be. If the couple is aware of the possibilities of severe physical or mental abnormalities, then with screening procedures today, the early detection of these problems can allow a termination of the pregnancy under the MTP Act of India (1971)."
In many countries abortion is allowed till a certain point in the pregnancy without the parents having to state any particular reason for it. In other countries, concerns for the mother's health or foetal defects may allow an abortion that would be otherwise illegal. In a few countries abortion is completely prohibited.
Some disability-rights groups oppose abortion for birth defects, as they feel that this is based on the assumption that the life of a physically / mentally challenged person is inferior to that of a 'normal' person. This they feel is being harshly prejudiced and disrespectful to differently-abled human beings.
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