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by singwell-is off researching a lot on March 28th, 2007

singwell-is off researching a lot

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If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis; would you recommend that she have an abortion?

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Answers. 20 helpful answers below.

  • by iwnit on July 20th, 2008

    iwnit

    "The Beethoven example is egregiously misleading. Beethoven was born well over two hundred years ago, in an era when the infant mortality was quite high by modern standards, and even infants who survived were often afflicted with serious health problems. Children didn't die or experience physical problems so frequently back then simply because they were all born to mothers who were themselves in poor health, as is implied here. Offering an *18th century* example in a *20th century* setting is a very poor way of making a serious point.

    Also, Beethoven was not born to a woman who "had 8 kids already." Although his mother, Maria Magdalena Laym (nee Kewerich) gave birth a total of eight times during her lifetime, Ludwig was only her third child. (Her first two children, one from a previous marriage, both died in infancy.) Only two of Beethoven's five younger siblings survived beyond their first few years of their life.

    Even if we take this example at face value, its message is still problematic. If the woman in the example had been advised to abort her pregnancy based on the (mis)information supplied here, the world would never have known the magic of Beethoven's music. But maybe a different woman who *did* opt to terminate her pregnancy might have spared the world another Stalin or Hitler. This is the sort of speculative "What if?" game that neither side can win, so it's best not to play at all."
    Source and further information:
    http://www.snopes.com/glurge/twoquestions.asp

    Further information:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_and_work_of_Ludwig_van_Beethoven

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  • by PrettyPirate on March 28th, 2007

    PrettyPirate

    No. Because then Beethoven would never have been born.

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  • by Bee on September 11th, 2009

    Bee

    I'm leaning toward having her spayed.

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  • by audiogal on March 28th, 2007

    audiogal

    I'm not sure I would just volunteer that information to her. If asked, however, I would inform her about the risks to the baby due to the syphilis.

    I would strongly suggest medical follow-up to see if the syphilis could be cured (usually if they have had it for less than a year, it can be cured with penicillin).

    Abortion is a very personal decision, and I wouldn't want to impose my beliefs on someone else.

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  • by Doubly Ugly on December 17th, 2008

    Doubly Ugly

    This question is less about abortion per se than the value of individual humans. I hope Frau Beethoven loved all of her 9 children equally.

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  • by Anonymous on December 17th, 2008

    Anonymous

    I am against abortion. Now, though I am a christian, my reasons for being against abortion are not religious reasons. See, when a woman is pregnant they do a test to determine if the baby is more likely to have down syndrome. Well, lucky for me, my parents were raised Roman Catholic because otherwise I might not be here today. My test came up positive, but I don't have down syndrome. I am perfectly healthy and I have an IQ of 126, which is well above average. I often wonder how many perfectly healthy children have been killed without being given a chance. So, even if you think Beethoven is unrealistic, this is a modern day example. Would you all have aborted me?

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  • by passerby on March 28th, 2007

    passerby

    I think we're on seriously shaky ethical ground deciding who has the right to bear children, regardless of the criteria.If her practitioner has not already advised her then I'd be very surprised. I suggest she knows the risks but desperately wants a healthy child (or perhaps she just wants ANOTHER child). I personally don't see that deafness is particularly a disability. I know that a lot of the british deaf community wish that people would stop trying to 'fix' them. Similarly people with sight impairment lead very healthy active and productive lives. Anyone risks having a child who has a developmental problem. Having children is a risky business. If the lady is financially capable of providing for her family, emotionally capable of providing the love needed for each child and willing to dedicate her life to her kids who are you to advise against proceeding with her pregnancy?

    My first child had adenoid problems, my second has asthma, my third is a girl, my fourth has epilepsy, what criteria are we using to define the recommendation as to whether a women should be able to have more or any children?

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  • by tammie on December 17th, 2008

    tammie

    I'd recommend she get her tubes tied!

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  • by Aksafari on December 17th, 2008

    Aksafari

    Nope, too late. But I HIGHLY recommend a hysterectomy.

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  • by Snooksie on September 27th, 2008

    Snooksie

    if she needs an abortion she should be allowed to have one

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  • by Anonymous on July 20th, 2008

    Anonymous

    Not being a doctor or other authority, what would my recommendation matter?

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  • by sssherri on March 28th, 2007

    sssherri

    Absolutely not! Although I may doubt the wisdom of her choices, it is not my right to decide her future.

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  • by Valparaiso on March 28th, 2007

    Valparaiso

    No of course not.

    First of all just because those previous 8 kids have problems doesn't mean that this new kid will.

    Secondly I doubt any of those kids that are alive would rather be dead then dealing with their condition. I mean I think you have to get into pretty bad straights to prefer death over your current condition.

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  • by zee-ster on March 28th, 2007

    zee-ster

    no, i really think that's up to her (and her partner) to decide. regardless of the other circumstances.

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  • by Gingerminx on December 17th, 2008

    Gingerminx

    I would never recommend it to someone, that seems rather callous, but I would support her if she chose to do so.

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  • by Prunesquallor on July 20th, 2008

    Prunesquallor

    The fact that you are talking about Beethoven has no relevance whatever. Yes, the world would have been poorer. But then perhaps if you or I hadn't used contraception on a particular occasion the world might have had a genius even greater, or a lunatic dictator. I wouldn't dream of advising anybody to have an abortion, but had I been around at the time I might have hoped that she would get one.

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  • by lovely on August 2nd, 2007

    lovely

    i would never recommed an abortion to anyone. they have to come to that decision on their own.

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  • by miRi hates social norms and regulations on December 18th, 2008

    miRi hates social norms and regulations

    no but i'd ask how the hell she was going to take care of them and herself and what she was thinking
    with those answers i'd either help her consider adoption or other ways to make sure they were well taken care of and i'd also suggest she have her tubes tied

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  • by joanna on October 23rd, 2009

    joanna

    she should think more before having sex and use a proper contraception; where did her brain was before? in a garbage? no, abortion is not a solution in this situation; she should not have more sex ever if she's so irresponsible

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  • by ave10451 on December 30th, 2009

    ave10451

    no

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If you knew a woman who was pregnant who had 8 kids already three who were deaf two who were blind one mentally retarded and she had syphilis would you recommend that she have an abortion
If you knew a woman who was pregnant who had eight children already three who were deaf two who were blind one mentally retarded and she had syphilis would you recommend that she have an abortion

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