But isn't it sad that we can't breed politicians with empathy, humanity and common sense.

I'm thinking of that couple who were granted Australian residential visas but not their eight year old daughter, evidently because she has Down Syndrome and could be a burden on our health services.

I am embarrassed to be Australian and ashamed of this government.

While downs syndrome kids can bring joy, there is no doubt that they bring a huge financial, time and emotional burden too. While the parents are relatively young they can bear the burden, but as they age they are less able too, and the fear of dying and leaving an aging disabled child without care is a constant fear for many aging parents.

While I applaud the generosity of spirit that goes out to these children, I fail to see the author's point as the decision to abort a down's fetus is entirely the decision of the parent and not that of society, unless its point is an anti abortionist message.

Shadow Minster, I think that is the point the author is ultimately railing against abortion and IVF. in fact these guys are also against contraception.

To knowingly have a child who will depend on the care of others when one dies is a selfish act. If one approves of that selfish act one can label it a denial of a 'search for perfection'. However, as SM wrote, the decision to abort a down's fetus is entirely the decision of the parent.

Every sperm is sacred..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUspLVStPbk

Please do not judge those who opt (for whatever reasons) to abort a Downs Syndrome foetus. I find it hard to imagine a parent would destroy a foetus just because it was not perfect. What if the mother was advised by her specialist to terminate the pregnancy due to the possibility of danger to the mother's life or the certainty the foetus would not survive the birth?

I admit we are a very visual society, but I can not accept society sees those who look or act differently to the majority should be hidden away so as not to offend societies delicate senses.

It is not an easy decision to terminate a pregnancy and the pain of loss lasts forever, but we make the best choices we can at a certain moment in time. We make that decision for the best reason, no matter what the reason.

This is a very personal topic, and one (I believe) that is without a
solution approved by all. To terminate or not to terminate, that is a personal question, and those who have to make the decision to terminate or not, should not be questioned on their choice. It must be one of the hardest decisions a parent can make.

Chris Meney is bold enough to raise an 'elephant in the room' issue. What a terrible statistic - over 90% of babies with Down syndrome are aborted! How many families are thus deprived of the lovely and loving personalities that most such children/people have - which is my experience and those of the vast majority of parents of Down syndrome children, as mentioned in the article.

Yes, Meney is addressing society as a whole, but do parents (who of course make the final choice) not belong to society?

Meney is probably anti-abortion, but that is something to be proud of. Abortion is at epidemic proportions in Australia and should only be carried out in extreme situations.

Mally, you wrote very perceptively, but I question whether the mother (and father) who is in no danger themselves in terms of giving birth, has the total right to decide to terminate a pregnancy. Has that baby not got any right to be born?