John was similarly accepting of babies with Down’s syndrome. He described his
conversations with his mother about birthing difficulties, then said: “You’ve got to
look for signs if he or she is a Down’s syndrome baby. They gave me a reflexology
tap across the knee” and he goes on to describe his exercises for his dislocated knee.
When asked what he might say to someone who was expecting a baby with Down’s
syndrome, John said:
John: It all depends how they feel. Let’s say me, for example, if I were to discuss abortion, I
would. But you’ve got to contact someone who wants a baby. I would discuss it with my
“wife” as you put it [he had said he would not necessarily get married] and see how she feels.
What I’m trying to say is, you could discuss fostering and they [prospective foster parents]
would probably discuss each statement and further and further in each statement.
Int: Does it make you feel bad that someone might not want a baby with Down’s?
John: I wouldn’t say that entirely. Say that someone doesn’t want -they’re going to get
further advice, housing advice, council advice to actually get things going again before they
take any action. [He described someone in a soap opera who was going to have her baby
adopted then changed her mind.] The mother can’t say that the baby has Down’s syndrome,
it’s up to the doctor or nurse. She’d probably think, “Oh, what should I do?” And she should
ask her mum and dad for help and advice and support, because of the risks.
Int: Do you think doctors should be testing for Down’s syndrome?
John: That all depends on how he or she feels, and what they have to say, before they take
any other action.
John’s views are more like those of the interviewees with sickle cell, cystic fibrosis and
thalassaemia, who tended to say that they respected people’s rights to information and choice.
Colin was uncertain about what he would say to a woman told that her baby has Down’s
syndrome, he began by saying, “I have that, unfortunately.” Then he said “I don’t know,” he
sighed and after a long pause said, “I haven’t a clue.”
Int: If your wife knew she was expecting a baby with Down’s, how would you feel?
Colin: [Sighs and pauses] Good, I think, [he laughs uncertainly].
Int: Would it be good?
Colin: Mmm, I’m not quite sure.
Int: Whatever you think is fine.
Colin: I don’t know anything really.
Peter and Philip eagerly described their play Mongol boy, and then were asked what they
might say to a woman expecting a baby with Down’s syndrome. Their expressions
suddenly changed and they looked very sad.
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