DOWN BUT NOT OUT

(Benson)

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

               August 03, 2014 Reuter News Reporter Juarawee Kittsilpa reported that a Thai surrogate mother was left with one of her twins because the baby’s Australian biological parents after learning that he was born with "Down’s syndrome" decided to leave him with his surrogate mother. According to Pattaramon Janbua, the surrogate mother, she was not informed of the baby’s condition until late in her pregnancy even if her doctors, the surrogate agency and the baby’s parents knew the baby was disabled at four months. She recounted that she only knew of the condition during the seventh month where the surrogate agency asked her to abort the disabled fetus.[1]   

               Down syndrome also known as “Trisomy 21” occurs in 1 out of 830 live births. It is a genetic disorder associated with mild to moderate learning disabilities, developmental delays, characteristic facial features, and low muscle tone in early infancy. Those affected also have heart defects, leukemia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other health problems. The symptoms of Down syndrome may range from mild to severe. Whereas before life expectancy was under 30 now it has dramatically increased because of medical care and social provision has improved and a person with Down syndrome of good health will live at an average of 55 years old and over. [2]    

                           

               To determine whether an embryo has any abnormalities, there is an old procedure which is performed between 15 and 18 weeks (2^nd trimester) while the newer ones though a bit risky is done between 10 to 12 weeks (1^st trimester).[3] During this period, the embryo is now a fetes. The feet, neck, body muscles, mouth, nose, ears, nose can be seen clearly and is developing.[4] Be reminded that we are not talking about a three to six week period, thus negating the ongoing debate whether an embryo is to be considered a human being or not.   

               Nowadays there is such a thing called “Therapeutic abortion” where abortion is allowed in consideration of the mother’s physical or mental health, or to prevent the birth of a deformed child or of a child conceived as a result of rape or incest.[5]

               But how does the Scripture deal with such problems? Even though the Bible is silent when it comes to fetal abnormalities, we can also see that God value life from the moment it is fertilized. With passages like “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5) “For God created my inmost being, God knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13) Without a doubt, God truly created us.

               

               Yet we cannot deny as well the cry of a mother and in her pain ask, "How can a loving and perfect God allow a child in my womb to have abnormalities and suffer?"

Questions for reflection:

      1.     Is it ethical for a mother to abort a fetus with abnormalities?

      2.     What if the soon-to-be mother is emotionally and financially unprepared to cope and provide for  

            the needs of her baby?

      3.     How can we explain that this preborn baby even with abnormalities is perfect in God’s eyes?

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[1] http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/03/us-thailand-surrogacy-idUSKBN0G30KT20140803 (accessed August 4, 2014).

[2] http://www.onhealth.com/down_syndrome/article.htm#what_is_down_syndrome (accessed August 4, 2014).

[3] http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/Prenatal-Screen-Detects-Fetal-Abnormalities-306 (accessed August 04,2014).

[4] http://www.baby2see.com/development/week10.html (accessed August 04, 2014).

[5] therapeutic-abortion. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Company. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/therapeutic-abortion (accessed: August 04, 2014).