From: "Tony Ingenoso" 

I've not seen much discussion about massive physical defects (microcephalia
for example).  Microcephalic babies basically have no shot EVER.  Having
only a brain stem severely limits the final developmental potential of any
baby to something akin to an earth worm.

These are heart rending for the parents when they occur, but it truly is a
case where the lights are on but nobody is home - literally, nor could
there ever be anyone home, ever.  Other than the fact that the brain stem
is equipped to keep the heart beating, there's nothing here beyond the kind
of microbe "life" one might find swimming in a puddle after a
rain storm.

Aborting a microcephalic baby can save the would be family from financial
ruin, and allows them to try again to get one with all the proper gear.

 Tony

"David N. Barnett"  wrote in message
news:lkd9mson88f48uhjeh6vntp3v2q6mn1271{at}4ax.com...
> On Thu, 06 Jul 2000 09:16:55 -0700, Jeff Shultz - Shultz Infosystems
si{at}wvi.com> wrote in message
kvb9msghtueegeaf61bgjh9mknonck4de8{at}4ax.com>:
>
> |  But they are saving preemies younger and
> | younger these days...
>
> To what end?  How many of these preemies can expect any sort of
> reasonable quality of life, without severe lifelong handicaps?
>
> --dnb

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