Arts & Humanities

Mentally disabled people having babies.

Arts & Humanities

Posted by: birdie

18th Oct 2012 10:12am

I believe mentally disabled people should not be allowed to have children i would like to hear other peoples thoughts on the issue. In my home town of Hervey Bay I have seen the effects of letting mentally disabled people have children. For instant a mentally disabled lady has had 8 children all with mental disabilities, her children have also had children, so all up 25 mentally disabled children have been brought into this world. It is also sad to see the children because their mentally disabled parents are not able to look after their mentally disabled children, leading to malnutrition, abuse and sexual assaults. I think the government needs to step in and put a stop to this abomination.


Comments 61

Burnt Out Digger
  • 26th Apr 2015 06:41pm

This question poses a rather difficult dilemma. A lot can depend upon the level of the person's disability and their capability to look after not only the baby but themselves.

jen1
  • 14th Nov 2014 06:20pm

i believe there are a lot of people out there who should not be having babies. mentally disabled are only a few.

Shennae
  • 7th Apr 2014 10:24pm

I believe if social services were involved better less of these tragedies where a mentally disabled person is raped or assaulted by a carer or relative would happen. It's often assumed they can't/won't have sex, etc so nobody thinks about what would happen if they were sexually abused. social services need to be involved and they need to be trained to look out for signs of a predatory carer or relative. It's a disgrace that in the modern world we can't even weed out predators who take advantage of people like that.

jess312
  • 4th Apr 2014 07:48pm

I think it would be unacceptable to ban people with disabilities having children. I think your example is quite rare but I believe that all people should have this choice.

suzieq2825
  • 4th Apr 2014 11:18am

I have a 19 year old autistic son who I think would make an excellent father some day. He is highly functioning and loving and caring. Which is more than I can say for thousands of people. What it really comes down to is how much support does any one particular "disabled" person need in order to appropriately care for a child. 25 mentally disabled kids running around your community is probably more than just a matter of being judgmental about disabilities, it sounds like a real problem. And the burden does fall to the government to support them. But what exactly is the answer? Legislation about reproductive issues concerning disabled people? That can't be an answer. So how about more community support for those who would be led into these conditions. Case managers helping families make decisions that would be best for them and keeping them out of harms way. We can give the government officials raises but we cant' use tax dollars for social workers to help people like this?

Anonymous
  • 1st Apr 2014 01:15pm

Sorry I disagree I think disabled people should be able to have children. I think it is a human right that all people posses and should not be removed.

Anonymous
  • 27th Mar 2014 07:31pm

I strongly disagree in so many levels, and to say it's an abomination especially when there are so many couples that can never have babies. Like yourself and I they also have that same right and prevaledge as all.

Anonymous
  • 27th Mar 2014 09:19am

It is up to their family if they have children, it shouldn't matter if they have mental disabilities. The government can't just stop families from having children it's not fair. I get it's sad to have mentally disabled children brought into this world with a challenge but that is why there is so many people that support them and help them through school to learn properly like any other student. If the parents have a mental disability it's up to them to make the choice, do they want their child to be mentally challenge or have no child..

griggy
  • 25th Mar 2014 09:37pm

I am sorry, but I don't agree with you. On what do you base your verdict? You give an example of a one family but you don't offer any substantial evidence of abuse. did you report this suspected abuse? Or are you a survivor looking for a way to speak?
We must never judge - it is an old, well-used adage but, walk a mile in her (or his) shoes.

Wake up

Anonymous
  • 25th Mar 2014 10:34am

how very narrow minded that type of thinking is!!! :( I know of my friends from HIGH SCHOOL who are thirty plus and they have ID and they are doing SO AMAZINGLY well and looking after they're kids with sum help from they;re parent & their folks are so proud of them!!!! (-: It just shows you dont know much and need to look into the subject carefully and be a little more gracious and open-minded when it come to those types of topics! :-)

yasminamber
  • 19th Mar 2014 04:10pm

your probably right because if someone cant look after their children properly then its just more burden on an already overwhelmed system of child protection, however i guess you have to keep in mind that there are some great people who are born from people with mental disabilities and what your suggesting might be offensive and judgmental of humanity.

on the other hand you would have to clarify what you mean by mental disability. that is a broad definitive term. depression can be considered a mental disability on its own... what one person may deem to be a disability may not be as bad for another, there is such thing as high functioning mental disabilities.what im getting at is your opening a whole can of worms which may make it difficult to address in a state or nationwide political debate for restricting who and who cannot have children. some people have very serious mental disabilities and raise fantastic children because they have the support of their families and communities. some people have mild mental health problems and cannot cope.

my only suggestion would be that maybe if you would like to find out more you could get involved in volunteering or working for a community services/care organization which deals with mentally disabled people or actively petition for what your asking from a valid and clearly defined persepctive in your local community from an educated point of view.

good luck

Anonymous
  • 18th Mar 2014 01:51pm

it's a shame that people are so judgemental of those not as fortunate.
Everybody has a right to have children, no one should ever think that they have the power to take that right away. There are many organisations that are available to assist ones that require it.

Sil sil
  • 19th Feb 2014 02:51pm

It is a very delicate subject & opens up many questions like who is suitable to have children? How to we take their rights away? What about people with addictions that take over their lives? What about people who can't even feed themselves are having kids? And so on. I do believe that the best quality of life for any child is the key, unfortunately some people are not capable of thinking like this or even considering that, it's a hard one. I met one mentally challenged couple who had a baby & my daughter was also under 1, it broke my heart as I could see they loved the child but he too had a mental disability & the parents played with him like a toy. After a long time crying I suggested checking the babies napoy & food and he was very dirty & hungry. Then they said they play with him until 1/2am, I'm not saying they are bad people, but they just didn't know any better as they too needed care of their own. This is only one situation I've seen, not suggesting all mentally challenged ppl are the same &/or people without a disability aren't doing the same thing....

Tree
  • 26th Sep 2013 06:57pm

Having heard what you have seen, I agree that those people should not have had children. But I don't just think it is mentally disabled people that have that type of thing happen after having children. I have seen and heard about many similar situations with non-mentally disabled parents letting those kind of things happen.
Having said that though, there should be some kind of carer for mentally disabled people who should be able to prevent these certain situations.
It is terrible to think that anyone should suffer from malnutrition and sexual assaults etc. but you shouldn't just limit that to mentally disabled people.

phoenix
  • 19th Sep 2013 12:36am

alas what i think of this can't be 'written' in here so i will simply say this (and yes i know we are all allowed our own opinions,but........................................)

:O

dalix
  • 20th Jul 2013 11:59pm

How do you define mentally disabled? You need to standardise this.

suzieq2825
  • 4th Apr 2014 11:38am
How do you define mentally disabled? You need to standardise this.

Well all mental disablilites are different as all people are different. standardizing is part of the problem. I know it's hard to get a grasp on what people are talking about when nobody is divulging the degree of disability...but...it's so individual ..you can't really set a standard

Lenmontano
  • 11th Jul 2013 11:59pm

I have a friend whose daughter is mentally disable. Although the girl is only 8 years old now, her mother is already contemplating on whether she's going to get her to take contraceptives once she menstruate. Although, I was a bit taken aback when she shared her thoughts with me about this, I felt I'm going to do the same if I were the mother of this girl. I know she has the right to have a family of her own, but how could she ever take care of her children when she can't take care of her own?

suzienewbury7
  • 10th Jul 2013 05:32pm

Seriously cannot believe some of the responses to this topic! - Most of you should be ashamed of yourselves! As a full time registered nurse for more than 10 years, I can assure you, that a large majority of these people, put their children first, and are garaunteed to have nothing but love for any child they happen to bring into the world. Physical and Mental disability does not determine how well you raise a child. Being able to give that child what it needs, is what counts.

Anonymous
  • 9th Jul 2013 10:03pm

I believe disabled people should be able to have kids but if the parents cannot look after there kids or provide efficient care then like with any home that cannot support their children then action should be taken, but there should be no law that says disabled people can't have kids.

Anonymous
  • 9th Jul 2013 06:23pm

Everybody should have the right to produce children. If there a loving parent than that should be enough, some may need support, but that shouldn't give anyone the right to judge another. Again sexual assults abuse all depend on people. Its not the individuals fault nor the mothers its the sickos out there. Judging others and playing god is the abomination not the breeders sorry but true

lozminka
  • 8th Jul 2013 06:59am

I believe it is humane to allow freedom in pregnancy but if it threatens the child's life than maybe it really isn't humane. I wouldn't know a lot about this topic but if statistics 100% show that the disabled parents have disabled children it is not accept. Although in the case of only one disabled parent (say the father is disable whilst the mother isn't) I believe it to be acceptable.

Pippa Rich
  • 2nd Jul 2013 01:53pm

I have a mental illness, and I wonder if I should have children as they are likely to have the illness as well. I am a functioning member of the community and work part time. My case is mild compared to others with the same illness.
Where would you draw the line on severity of illness.
Many people with illness can manage a job and a family.

Blondie
  • 27th Jun 2013 08:06pm

I think that it's a very sad subject, though I don't believe we have the right to say who can and can't have children I can see your point of view. I think if the parents are able to give their children love and be able to care for them, then let them have children but it's a different story if they are not mentally capable to look after them. All around its a pretty sad thing,,

JasonHerbal
  • 24th Jun 2013 09:34am

Hey, I think this is a big issue

Anonymous
  • 18th Jun 2013 08:45am

For the most part I agree with you, however I do think it depends on the extent of the disability. I think as a rule of thumb, if they cant look after themselves, they shouldn't as it isn't fair to themselves, society or most importantly the child/ren. It is true that in this day and age anyone CAN have a child (as mentioned in other replies) but that doesn't mean that they SHOULD, especially if the disability is genetic and may be passed on. This disussion thread brought to mind an article i read in a magazine some time ago about a mentally disabled couple who were unable to conceive naturally due to their disabilities so had undergone IVF that had been donated and everyone was going on about the "miracle" etc etc. Honestly, I found this to be appalling - there is a reason they couldn't (natural selection) and they have selfishly decided to bring a child into their world, knowing it will have a limited quality of life. If they feel that they have "love to share" what is wrong with spending time with family members and their children, volunteering or even getting a pet? I agree there are many non-disabled people that also shouldn't have kids but that is a discussion for another day.

toddawas
  • 28th Apr 2013 11:49pm

its unrealistic to think that a blanket ban can be put on people with a mental disability having children. firstly because everyone has the right to choose this for themselves just as many non-mentally disabled people can have as many children as they like regardless of how appropriate or capable they would be as parents. Secondly, there is a wide range of mental disabilities with various characteristics, some obvious, others not at all. Someones mental capabilities does not immediately determine the type of parent they would be, just as someones IQ cannot be used as a guide to determine who is worthy and capable of being a loving parent.

annie
  • 31st Mar 2013 08:38am

I think that any person should be allowed to have children regardless of that persons mental capacity.In this world there are people who would love to have children but due to one thing or another are unable to have them.This is so sad.

music1
  • 29th Jan 2013 08:02pm

I think that everyone is a unique individual. Even siblings who have the same biological parents usually have different characteristics, personalities, natures, likes and dislikes from the day they are born. Environmental factors can affect them in different ways. Therefore, the decision to have children is up to the individual, their partners, their loved ones and the medical profession if they have a mental illness such as schizophrenia.

purpleboo
  • 29th Jan 2013 06:07pm

Do you have hard evidence the children in this situation are suffering as you say? Or were you generalizing? If you have evidence, then call the appropriate bodies to deal with it. I can understand what you are saying though. If these children are taken away from her and her children's children, then it's a huge burden on the system that we pay for. Mmmmm.

purpleboo
  • 29th Jan 2013 05:59pm

I don't think it's a good idea as other people have to be involved to help with the poor kids. What can these parents teach them? But, I am not God and I don't think anyone can take that role on in this situation. How would you stop them having children? I agree with someone else here about remembering what Hitler did. Would you suggest they are monitored closely and if pregnant, then they are forced 'by law' to have an abortion? Or maybe they should all be sterilized? The mere thought of it is reprehensible & sub-human. It would be like experimenting on animals for 'scientific' purposes which upsets and shocks me as it's so cruel and unnecessary.

chance
  • 23rd Jan 2013 08:40am

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

PGS
  • 22nd Jan 2013 08:14pm

Seems we've hit Angel's nerves. 9/10 times, nature had already decided this being should not make it. Do-gooders & their 'we will save the world' concepts have put us where we are. Laws of Nature should always rule over Laws of Man.

Angel
  • 18th Nov 2012 10:40pm

Have you heard of the Human Rights? I'm sure you have there's a bunch of HR for people with MI's too! It used to happen people with MI's did used to be made sterile in the dark ages.. You may be surprised at who is mentally ill or disabled. Seriously if you don't realise you have a disability of some kind you're mad. No ones perfect, you are what created disabled people!! It's not the person with a disability it's your disgusting stance that they're different and don't suit you, how about you change your attitude rather than these people who were born innocent being subjected to your out dated speculation..I pray you or the people you love never end up in an accident and end up becoming a person with a disability cause I know you're gonna wanna send them to an institution. Wake up.

PGS
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:19pm

Depends if we are talking about disabled by accident or by birth defect. Accidents are not generally hereditory, genetic birth defects are. Until there is another way to prevent genetic defects being passed on, then preventing pregnancies in these people is the way to go. It's probably fair to say that most of them are only still alive due to medical intervention, if nature had been left to it's course....

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:10pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:10pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:10pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:10pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

Shennae
  • 7th Apr 2014 10:27pm
Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most...

stop spamming, how many of these damn replies did you post?

godsbaby
  • 25th Sep 2013 02:36pm
Yes I agree

We all have rights but where does common sense come in? As I have looked after all kinds of people from all walks of life, I believe that we need to take a good dose of common sense when looking at these kind of questions. Like is a person able to look after the child, should the child be taken for their own safety? Weather the person is disabled or not is not the question, is the person able to raise a child is the question.

phillie
  • 24th Sep 2013 06:33am
Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most...

Yes I agree

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:10pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:10pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:10pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:10pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:10pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:08pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:08pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

godsbaby
  • 3rd Nov 2012 07:07pm

Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most mentally disabled need help caring for their children but most drug or alcoholic treat thier children worse..

ozziedigger
  • 3rd Nov 2012 03:53pm

This is a very heavy subject. I used to sell real estate and met all kinds of different
families,at their home,where they are their most natural. One family in particular came to mind while reading this discussion,and a warm glow in me.
Parents with a mental dissability had just had a baby. When i walked into the room
where they all were,it was as if their love was a physical presence enveloping the air i was breathing,As if their joy and unknown inner love had found the magic switch to bring 3 humans together.
True story,but i don`t know the ending.

Joylene
  • 3rd Nov 2012 01:15pm

As a former carer of people with disabilities I strongly believe that it should not be allowed. Most need carers for personal care because of poor hygiene and it places a huge strain on community services so babies would also have to be cared for. Most of the children are born without disabilities but end up caring for their parents. It is not a good life to bring a child into the world. Also you have to think of the children being name called, bullied and discriminated against at school.

lazza larder
  • 3rd Nov 2012 06:56am

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

Frawdavlu
  • 2nd Nov 2012 08:52pm

It would depend at what level of mental disability the person has and how a standard is to be set ,to the level of disability,whereby can this person handle for the caring of the child and secondly is it genetic or caused by disease or by an accidentI genetic then medical intervention maybe nesessary.Some of allegedly normal people still neglect their children's welfare and abuse their kids.So how doe's society make rules as to stop these occurances.We will be told by some that to stop a certain section of the community having children is an abuse of their right's,but what is the cost to our medical services and the nation by doing nothing.

Hartmut
  • 2nd Nov 2012 08:47pm

That is a very tricky question because it covers big emotionally, religious, ethical, economical and law charged issues, to complex to cover in this survey.
I am not in favor of severely mentally handicapped
people having children, for the children's sake.
That said, there should be no law against it, because we remember Hitler and how easily such a law can be misused.
All that said we may also considered that we are all in some way 'mentally' challenged.
The only difference is that some are more challenged than others.


Hartmut
  • 2nd Nov 2012 08:46pm

That is a very tricky question because it covers big emotionally, religious, ethical, economical and law charged issues, to complex to cover in this survey.
I am not in favor of severely mentally handicapped
people having children, for the childrens sake.
That said, there should be no law against it, because we remember Hitler and how easily such a law can be misused.
All that said we may also considered that we are all in some way 'mentally' challenged.
The only difference is that some are more challenged than others.


Anonymous
  • 24th Oct 2012 09:22pm

I can see both sides to this argument, having discussed it at length with my peers but I believe that they should be able to have children. By removing a mentally disabled persons right to have children we are essentially taking away free will. If we were to take away that right, where does it end? Someone's right to own a car, work, live?

Anonymous
  • 24th Oct 2012 11:43am

i believe EVERYONE should be able to have babies no matter what your mental health status is. With this day and ages technology and career opportunities theres always going to be someone who can help out and lend their expertise. For me i used to be a teacher for kids with disabilities and mainly autistic children. Autism is also a form of mental disease or defect because it does affect the brain and the child's function and mental abilities but to say that they 'shouldnt' be allowed to have children themselves is wrong because seeing these kids go through class after class and have success in even the smallest areas does that mean we should deprive them of having the opportunity to bring a new life into this world ? yes i understand that there are people out their who do horrible things to the children they bring into the world but thats where we have to contribute to organisations that will lend a hand and regularly check up and aide them . Just my opinion

mee
  • 23rd Oct 2012 11:56am

That's very sad thinking...... I think anyone can have baby!!!
It is very difficult to look after, but you could get helping from anybody. Even normal people get to help from parents, friend, baby sitting...all the time.

Anonymous
  • 19th Oct 2012 02:42am

Sorry but i think we all should be allowed to have children not matter how we are and yes i have a intellectual disability myself and i have a beautiful 6 yr old son that i am looking after myself and we have hard times with him but there should never be a law saying disabled people should not be allowed to have kids thats just wrong in so many ways and thats just taking there freedom away and not allowing them to have a life and whats the difference with people that are not disabled and disabled people im sorry but i dont believe taking there right off them of having babies just they might need more support with things around the baby but the is alot of people that will help you out with that and well really to me its just putting someone down and saying they will never be as good as a person that is not a disabled person

marn
  • 7th Apr 2014 11:34am
Sorry to disagree with you but as a person who has looked after and cared for both abled and disabled, I can tell that the so called abled people are more abusive than the disabled. Yes, most...

I feel so strongly about this subject, I to am disabled, I was born with a muscle disorder that will be there for the rest of my life, I also have some issues with my insides works that one must have before being able to conceive, with that said' I would one day like to adopt & that way I can try and bring as much joy to those less fortunate just like the joy they will bring to me, & if they try and make it hard because I have a disability, I will bring this whole broken system crashing down. I am so sorry you were treated so poorly and I am sorry our system is so misguided that is supports the fact that a child is better off homeless than to have a loving, caring family with some form of a disorder, but a girl can get pregnant at 14 then pop out another 20kids that also are not looked after and that's fine. This system sucks, it was obviously written up by someone sitting behind a desk & had a happy upbringing, or just does not care less

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