I have been wanting to write a blog about this story since I first heard about it. But to be honest, I was entirely too angry. The whole story just makes me sick to my stomach. It makes me see red. And I know that some of you may not have heard about this story, but before I explain I have to get out how angry I am so that I may calmly (well as calmly as possible) explain the situation. It just makes me so mad I could spit. Okay. I think I'm ready.
There is a couple in the great state of Oregon who sued the hospital for the wrongful birth of their child. Their reasoning behind this lawsuit? Their child was born with Down Syndrome. They say that the only reason they continued with their pregnancy was because they were told that their child did not have Down Syndrome. (I'm sorry, I'm getting upset again. Please forgive the angry rant that may follow the continuing of this story.) They were not award the opportunity to terminate their pregnancy, which they would have done if they had known. The test that they had performed was on the wrong tissue, so it incorrectly told them that their child did not have Down Syndrome. In another article, it is said that the reason that the test came back negative was because of the type of Down Syndrome that the child had. The couple did not do an amniocentesis. Originally, the lawsuit was for $7 million. They were award $2.9 million for the care of their daughter over her lifetime.
Okay, now that I've got the case covered, I can elaborate on how this infuriates me. Anyone who knows anything about Down Syndrome, or knows someone with Down Syndrome knows that they are the most amazing people....Ever. They have the kindest hearts, the greatest sense of humor and just all-around amazing individuals. My little sister has Down Syndrome. I am aware that it's not always an easy road. Take the normal challenges of parenting, and multiply them by, I don't even know how many. It takes an amazing person to raise a child with Down Syndrome, and my sister is blessed to have two amazing parents in her life. This little girl, my heart breaks for her. She has two parents that publicly, nationally, admitted that they would have aborted her. I just want to go to Portland and scoop her up and be like, look you greedy bitches, you do not deserve this amazing child. You are so ungrateful for the gift that God has given you.
(I had to take a temporary break from this post to ground myself.)
While I can understand from the parents point of view the financial strain that this child brings, I am angered that they would feel that it's the hospital's financial responsibility. I understand that the hospital did not do the testing correctly. But every medical test is not 100% accurate. It's just not possible. How can you say that you love your child dearly, and then in the same breath, sue for not having the option to terminate that child?? How could that thought even come into your head? How you can even sit there, as a parent of 3 and say that you're upset that you didn't get the chance to terminate this pregnancy and you deserve to be given $3 million to take care this "burden"? You didn't get that chance....now is the time to get over it. Move on and figure out the best way to raise your family.
There is always a risk when having children that they may not turn out just the way you want. There is no way to guarantee that your child will be 100% healthy. There are so many things that can go wrong, and not be just "perfect". But does that make your child any less perfect to you? If your answer is anything other then no, then I don't know what to tell you. Creating life is not an easy process. Raising a child is even more difficult. Now this child is going to go through life being the little girl that her parents didn't want. Everyone knows her name. Everyone knows who her parents are. Everyone knows her story. Did her family ever think about the effect this would have on their child that they love so dearly? Just one more reason that I believe that this couple acted very selfishly. I'm sure there are people who feel differently, and perhaps can even understand where this couple is coming from. Not sure if I'll ever be one of them.
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