Any parent's hardest choice
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Ms Rosamond Mahony
Sir: Regarding Claire Rayner's article today (Another View, 27 June) I too am sorry that the Lawsons are using their disappointment at the birth of a daughter with Down's syndrome as a stick to beat other, less fortunate parents with.
Ms Rayner is absolutely right when she says that the burden is enormous and many families are not as fortunate as the Lawsons have been in the Handicap Lottery. They have a child with Down's syndrome; some babies are diagnosed in utero as having dreadful abnormalities; and others face a life that is hardly a life at all, as did my own daughter. She was diagnosed as having a spina bifida and hydrocephalus so severe as to leave her paralysed and profoundly brain damaged. Had she survived birth she would have faced many tough and painful operations simply to allow her to exist.
My own anger at what the Lawsons are doing in their grief is immense. How can they be so unkind to other people facing the prospect of bringing up a profoundly handicapped child - and without many of the advantages the Lawsons have. The damage being done in the media regarding prenatal testing and termination is enormous.
Any parent faced with such news is devastated. Grasping the enormity of the situation can be hard, but every year brings advances in foetal testing, so that less invasive tests can be done at an earlier stage.
My own termination took place at 20 weeks. It was a very sad and unpleasant experience which I chose only in preference to what my daughter would have had to face had she survived.
Choosing for your own child to die is the hardest choice any parent ever has to face, and one which is taken out of love for the child.
May I wish the Lawsons well in the decision they have made and request that other parents should be given respect by the media and society in their decision to allow their babies to die. The parents of such children should not be made to feel that they have done something morally reprehensible.
Yours etc,
Rosamond Mahony
Farnham,
Hampshire
27 June
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments