Abortion and Disabilities: 87% of Downs Die, 64% Spina Bifida

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Oct 10, 2011   |   6:40PM   |   Lansing, MI

The targeting of unborn children in abortion is especially heartbreaking for parents who have raised children with disabilities and experienced the love and joy they share together.

Now, a new flier produced by Right to Life of Michigan provides some startling stats in terms of the percentage of unborn children diagnosed with various medical conditions who become victims of abortion.

“Disabled individuals, no matter what age or status, are human beings worthy of protection. To say a disabled person is less of a human being diminishes the respect for every human life. The value of life does not depend on looks or abilities. There is innate dignity in every human life,” it reads. “Yet unfortunately, unborn and newborn children with disabilities are the least protected members of society. Masked under the cloak of compassion, innocent human beings are being killed without their consent because their lives are proclaimed not worth living.”

The chilling numbers reveal what Right to Life calls the “sinister side of abortion.”

“A study from Wayne State University found that 87% of unborn children diagnosed with Down Syndrome were aborted. An review of studies in several countries showed 92% of unborn children who were diagnosed with Down Syndrome were aborted,” RLM says.

Meanwhile, children diagnosed prenatally with spina bifida were aborted 64% of the time and the flier talks about 26 children diagnosed with cleft lips or palates, conditions that are correctable by surgery, who were aborted in the United Kingdom from 2002 to 2009.

“While the vast majority of abortions are done for purely social or economic reasons, the fact that the vast majority of babies with particular conditions are being aborted raises troubling questions about how we as a society are caring for the most sick and vulnerable,” it concludes.

Pam Sherstad of Right to Life of Michigan talked with LifeNews about the new publication.

“The right to life should be extended to all, but for some that right is seriously jeopardized because of a prenatal diagnoses. Our goal is to educate on the disturbing trend of abortion for those diagnosed with disabilities,” she said. “Studies have shown that unborn and newborn children with disabilities are among the least protected members of the human family. Our prolife voice of hope and help is desperately needed.”

Print the new flier for your use at https://media.rtl.org/pdf/DisabilityAbortionFlier.pdf