Moral hypothetical
Imagine a scenario where you and your romantic partner have finally conceived a foetus after years of trying. You begin to think the tides are turning - life is no longer going south. As good future parents, you two are preparing for the birth by buying all the necessary stuff to cater for a baby’s needs. You tell everyone you know. You share the news with everyone and their goldfish
Of course, check-ups every now and then are crucial to ensure the life form growing is safe and sound
15 weeks into the pregnancy, past the 1st trimester, you have a routine check-up. They use ultrasound to see the foetus, normal. However, they notice something they haven't noticed before. You see, you find out both of you have mutations in the HEXA gene in chromosome 15. This means there is an elevated chance of obtaining a genetic disorder called ‘Tay-Sachs disease’
Tay-Sachs is a fatal genetic disorder that causes progressive destruction of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Therefore, your baby will only live to around 5-7, 10 if they’re lucky. Their life will be over before it even began. You begin to question what to do. If you decide to keep the baby, and it turns out that they do have Tay-Sachs, their life will be seriously affected and impacted by this. Would you bring them on this planet, just for them to endure 6 years of suffering?
Another thought pops up. The maximum foetus age for an abortion (in the region you live in) is 16 weeks. You still have the opportunity to make sure it doesn't have to go through a life of pain. The midwife says there is a strong possibility of them having the genetic disorder, but tests will confirm it by week 26 of the pregnancy, well past the legal limit for an abortion. At least the baby won't have to go through all that?
What would you do? Would you abort, or not