Quality of life II Quality of life
Objectives
refers to the kind of life the baby will have. It can mean both the physical and mental wellbeing of the child and also the family circumstances into which it is born. Will it live a life without pain and suffering? Will it be able to fulfil its potential? Will it be wanted and loved? It can also refer to the mother's quality of life, and whether the family can support a new baby. For some parents, in some circumstances, the prospect of having a new baby does not fill them with joy. Below are some possible reasons for this.
Explore the concept of quality of life including issues surrounding severe handicaps, unwanted children, poverty and suffering.
Quality of life
Severe disability
Babies born with severe mental or physical disabilities may live a life of suffering and pain. They may not be able to enjoy a full life or communicate with others. They may need full-time care, placing extra responsibility on the family.
Understand how the idea of quality of life is used in arguments about the preservation of life.
Ke terms Quality of life: a measure of fulfilment.
An unwanted child
Just because a pregnancy is unplanned does not mean that the child is unwanted. Unplanned children are often loved when they arrive. However, in some cases an unplanned pregnancy may cause resentment in a woman whose circumstances are not suitable for motherhood. She may not be able to give the baby the love and care it deserves. If the mother is very young, she may not be ready for such a commitment. The baby's father may not wish to be involved. Occasionally a baby may be conceived through rape. Poverty
121 Young motherhood can be very stressful
Some people cannot afford a child, particularly if their family is already large, or if they are on a low income. The things needed for a baby are expensive and the quality of life of the whole family may be affected. Parents may be out of work, or if the mother is single, she may have to give up her job to look after a child. Even a child born into a family that is financially well-off may suffer from neglect because its parents may not have time for it, or are unable to provide emotional support.
II What justifies ending a pregnancy? Some parents feel unable to cope with the responsibility of a child in some of these circumstances. However, the issues are complex and need careful consideration. The child's disability
How severe would a disability have to be, to be a serious threat to quality of life? Many disabled people live happy and productive lives. Disabled UK athletes brought home 102 medals from the Beijing Paralympics. If a child was going to be born deaf or with a cleft palate, would that be enough to justify ending a pregnancy?
131 Many disabled people can have a good quality of life