Mary Kenny
It can be a source of comfort to know that while their child could not sustain life, the baby could give life to others, writes Mary Kenny
Recently, the TV comedy writer Graham Linehan wrote a poignant article in the Sunday Independent magazine about the termination of a pregnancy. He and his wife Helen found that the baby they were expecting – and looking forward to – was afflicted with what he has called a “fatal foetal abnormality”. The infant would not be able to sustain life, and if born, would be likely to die within a short time. And so, the Linehans decided on abortion.
Who would judge anyone in such circumstances? Who knows how any of us would react in such a heart-rending situation?
His story was told with honesty and sincerity, although perhaps it was somewhat alarmist to add, as he did, that he didn’t think Ireland was a safe country for women because abortion was so restricted.
Where is the evidence that more women in Ireland die because of our laws? The maternal health statistics in the Republic of Ireland are generally good, and nearly always among the top ten in the World Health Organisations for maternal (and infant) survival. In fact, the United States – where the Supreme Court guarantees abortion rights – ranks highest in the developed world for low standards of maternal health.
Point
Graham Linehan’s main point was that a woman carrying a seriously disabled child who is unlikely to live more than a few hours should have the legal right to terminate the pregnancy. And many people would support that position. Yet there has been an interesting development among doctors in Britain who, paradoxically, advance the idea that it is better if such pregnancies are continued.
Speaking at the British Transplantation Society in Glasgow last week, transplant surgeon Dr Niaz Ahmed said that more lives could be saved if babies with conditions such as anencephaly (where the brain fails to develop) were allowed to be born so that other infants could benefit from organ donation.
230 babies with anencephaly are aborted in Britain each year: about a dozen are born, at full term. Dr Ahmad, of St James’s Hospital in Leeds, outlined a programme of encouraging parents to bring such babies to birth because it would be so beneficial for other babies urgently awaiting organ donation.
“It is a matter of education,” he said. Parents, and those caring for pregnant women, can be educated into understanding that organ donation is the better choice. “These organs can be transplanted – they work and they work long term.”
Dr Joe Brierley, consultant at the neonatal unit of London’s famous Great Ormond Street Hospital, agreed. He said organ donation among new-born babies is becoming much more acceptable. “There has been progress.”
And for some parents, it can be a source of comfort to know that while their child could not sustain life, the baby could give life to others.
British nurses are now being trained to explain this to parents, with a view to supporting mothers through a pregnancy such as Linehan so sadly described.
Older people downsizing their accommodation
The ESRI is urging ‘empty-nesters’ – older people whose families have left home – to sell up and downsize, so as to make space on the housing market for young couples needing homes.
The need for homes for young couples is a good cause – family life often depends on housing. But there isn’t always a match between the needs of the younger folk and the housing disposability of the older generation.
I have empty-nester friends who have addressed their side of the problem by taking in lodgers.
It doesn’t help couples, but it helps singletons who need accommodation and can’t afford huge sums. It also helps alleviate loneliness.
When I last visited, I found a cordial scene, much laughter and friendly talk.
Should be encouraged.
Priests should be able to adopt children
How interesting to read about a Chicago priest, Fr Michael Pfleger, who ministers to America’s largest African-American church in Chicago, St Sabina’s.
Fr Pfleger – socially active among the black community – adopted two sons, both black, and also became the foster-father of a troubled 16-year old boy. The archdiocese was doubtful at first, but allowed the adoptions and fostering to go ahead, though not everyone in Mike Pfleger’s own family approved (because of the colour issue).
One of the boys subsequently died from a blood clot following a surgical operation, but the others have done well and benefitted from being adopted by a priest. And why not? There should be no bar to adoption by category: I’ve seen adoptive parents rejected for being too fat, too old, being smokers, being the “wrong” race or religion. But the best interest of the child should surely over-rule all such categories.
Mike Pfleger can be politically controversial, it seems, and categorised himself as left-wing: but clearly a fine priest who is greatly appreciated by his community, and accepted as one of their own.