This story disgusts me. Disgusts me in so many
ways, I couldn’t believe it as I was reading it. Please note that this story
does deal with abortion and contain my views on abortion. These are not views
that everyone will agree with and support and that is fine. Because this is
such a sensitive issue, please refrain from commenting bashing people’s
choices; if you do, your comments will be removed. If you want to express your
opinion please do it in a respectful way.
The story is, a 16 year old girl died as a
result of complications of cancer because she was pregnant. She was denied
chemotherapy because it could terminate her pregnancy which is illegal in the
Dominican Republic, where she lives. So after 20 or so days after she was
admitted she was finally allowed treatment, the girl was 13 weeks pregnant and
died after having a miscarriage and going into cardiac arrest.
First off, I cannot believe that there is a law
that allows medical doctors to refuse treatment as it may lead to a
miscarriage, in the case of a minor, the parent is allowed to make decisions in
regards to their child’s health. Second, I cannot believe that in this case the
life of the child supersedes the life of the parent. It’s common practice that
if the mother’s life is imminent danger, the life of the child will be helped
to the full extent but they put mom first. In this case, two lives were lost
because they refused to risk the life of the baby and thus refused to treat the
mother.
Speaking from the Canadian perspective here, I
am glad that Canada has a law protecting a woman’s right to choose. I’m so glad
that if that little girl had lived in Canada and this happened to her, she
would have been put first. I realize that losing a child is something that
affects a person deeply, decided on or not, however you cannot force a 16 year
old girl to die because it may abort this child.
I am pro-choice. I realize that’s my right to
decide and I realize that it’s others decisions to be pro-life. I respect every
person’s individual choice, when it comes down to it I would just like that
same respect if I was ever in that position. I realize that some countries do
not allow for abortions and as much as I don’t support that option I can
respect their choice to instill that. To a point, not to the point where they
are denying medical care to a mother who is in dire need of it because it may
abort the child.
To me, the worst part about this is that not
only was the baby lost, but immediately after this 16 year old girl died, and
her mother is left alone. A parent only wants to protect their child and when
your country does not allow you to make the choices to save your child and not
only do they die but your grandchild dies? I cannot even imagine what her
mother is thinking.
I think it’s absolutely
disgusting that a mother’s life is viewed as that inferior to her child that at
13 weeks, that child dictates whether or not the mother will receive treatment
to save her life. This story absolutely broke my heart and there is absolutely no
reason, in this day and age, that this needs to happen.
Story
details taken from CNN story by Rafael Romo:
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