What exactly is a wrongful birth? I actively follow news and politics, so when I came across an article on wrongful birth the other day, I had to take a second look. Never in my life have I heard the term used before. I am sure that many of you reading this article haven't heard of the phrase either. So to get you up to speed, here is my take on the madness.
Apparently, a Fort Madison, Iowa hospital is to blame for the live birth of a child with “abnormalities.” Yes, you read that right, the hospital is to blame for the live birth, not the death of a child. I think most any parent expecting a child are extremely nervous until they hear that first cry of their child out of the womb. I know that I valued this pivotal moment for the birth of each of my three children. Of course I want my child to be born healthy, but honestly, I would take them any way that God delivered them to me.
In in this instance, a woman named Pamela Plowman saw fit to sue the hospital for delivering her son. At Ms. Plowman's 22 week ultrasound the doctor allegedly told her that her child was fine after noticing a smaller than average head size. Upon giving birth, the child was diagnosed with unknown medical conditions.
Plowman told the court, if she'd known of those abnormalities, she would have terminated her pregnancy.
Ms. Plowman's justification for the lawsuit was cited as high medical costs and a low quality of life for her child. Not to be insensitive to the situation, but why does this lady think that she should be terminating a life because of monetary reasons or inconveniences?
My opinion on the wrongful birth lawsuit.
Let's be clear that if you choose to have a child, you are embarking on an unknown journey. You don't know what your life or your child's life will hold. Like the old saying goes there are only three things certain in life birth, death, and taxes. Everything else is more or less your choosing or the cards you are dealt.
For the life of me, I do not see how someone could regret giving birth to their child. Yes, I am not a mother, and no I am not in her shoes. What I am is a father of three kids who couldn't imagine life without them no matter what happens in their life. I see my children as a gift from God, and I signed up for everything that happens in our life. Life is full of unknowns. Part of what helps us get through struggles in life is to rely on God. When God is absent from your life, trials become enormous and seem like a never ending pit of defeat.
Honestly, there is no such thing as a wrongful birth. God created every one of us just the way he wanted us.
Psalm 139:13-16 NASB For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works,And my soul knows it very well.15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
Why choose life?
God breathed life into every soul. Just because we decide to see abnormalities, does not make them defects to God. God's unique design created every soul differently, and we should embrace his perfect designs. Let us pray for the people involved in this situation. Not only does the boy need prayers, but the mother does as well. Let us also pray for the hospital staff that delivered this boy safely into the earth just the way God created him.
We must value every life as a unique creation of God. Choosing to play God through abortion does not honor life.
Exodus 21:22-25 NASB If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay ]as the judges decide. 23 But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.