Q&A: Abortion Due to Concern About Defects in the Fetus
Abortion Due to Concern About Defects in the Fetus
Question
Hello and blessings,
My wife’s sister recently discovered that she is a carrier of Fragile X syndrome (which causes severe brain damage if it is passed on to the fetus). Following that, my wife took a carrier screening test, but her results will only come back in two months. Among other things, she also took a pregnancy test and discovered that she is pregnant. Since by the time the results arrive she will already be in the third month, the question is whether she may have an abortion now out of concern that she may turn out to be a carrier?
It should be noted that even if she is a carrier, the chance that Fragile X will affect the fetus is 50% for a male and 25% for a female.
Answer
I am among the more stringent on matters of abortion. In my opinion, it cannot be permitted when you do not yet know that there is a problem. Even when there is one, it is far from simple. Is there no way to expedite the test by paying a private lab?
Discussion on Answer
An update to the story… Unfortunately, the fetus was diagnosed as male with a full mutation, meaning that with 100% certainty he will have some level of intellectual disability, apparently between moderate and severe. In principle, we informed the hospital that we want to continue the pregnancy. As a result, my wife is in a very bad emotional state, and from what I heard, at the Puah Institute they recommend abortion in such cases. I just want to make sure that we are making the right decision morally.
Thank you.
I think that if you are consulting with them, I won’t interfere.
At this point I haven’t consulted with them, I only heard from a fellow sufferer that they explained to him that this is not considered taking a life, and after reading your column on the subject I became convinced that it is at the very least possibly taking a life. So I’m really interested in your opinion whether morally it is right not to abort, with all the implications for the family and maybe for the child himself, who will suffer.
If the child will suffer and your wife will suffer greatly, there is room to permit it. It depends on how severe the distress is, and to what extent it exists now but will pass once you get used to the situation and live with it. I do not think it is justified to destroy a person’s life (your wife’s or yours) in such a situation. This is also a kind of pursuer. Great distress over the course of a whole life is a consideration akin to saving a life. Perhaps it would be worth consulting a psychologist and speaking with couples who have gone through such a situation, and then deciding. Just note that you need to act quickly, because at certain stages the prohibition against abortion becomes more severe, and the law also no longer allows it.
Thank you.
The truth is, this only came up today and I still haven’t had a chance to look into it. If any of the readers here know whether there is a way to speed up the test, I’d be happy for the information.