"Designer" Babies With Wanted Defects
By deargoodbye
@deargoodbye (761)
United States
December 23, 2006 2:50pm CST
I read a story on MSNBC.com about parents who WANT their children to have certain defects. These were parents who were deaf, or had dwarfism or other "defects" that aren't really looked at as being a severe defect.
They feel they should be able to make sure that their child has the same "defects" as they do, and that by denying them that right doctors and others are "playing God."
Aren't the real people trying to play God here the parents of these unborn children?
2 responses
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
24 Dec 06
When to Deaf people marry, they are often excited when their kids are too. There is a Deaf subculture who totally resents the idea that they are considered "handicapped" or that their physical characteristic is thought of as a "Defect".
@deargoodbye (761)
• United States
24 Dec 06
but should the parents be able to "play God" themselves and allow a doctor or lab to mess with the genetics in order to be 100% certain their child will be deaf as well?
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
24 Dec 06
How is that any different than any other "designer parenting"?
Just fill out the form:
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Build: Atheletic
Height: 6' 0"
Hearing: Deaf please
@deargoodbye (761)
• United States
26 Dec 06
I don't agree with any of that though. Let it play out naturally. I don't think people should be able to choose eye color or hair color or anything like that at all.
@thewatchlist (653)
• United States
26 Dec 06
In my opinion... If we are letting people opt out of certain things, we might as well let people opt in. As Ted mentioned, certain things are considered a culture.
You probably saw news about the hub bub pertaining to the deaf college (Gallaudet University) where students were protesting because the newly appointed school official "wasn't deaf enough" (according to that school official)...
http://www.nbc4.com/news/10110109/detial.html
I can understand being proud of the fact that you work to overcome obstacles, but if you are going to have a child why would you seek out those same obstacles for that child? We people do some really selfish things.
