The Editor,

Investigate Magazine.

Dear Ian

The Right to Debate

In response to Judith Hill, February edition. Your correspondent propounds a hedonistic, secular and utilitarian quality of life ethic which proposes that only the fit have a right to life. This ethic is opposed to the sanctity of life ethic which respects the right to life of every human being from conception to natural death..The society that she proposes would sadly be selfish, uncaring and unloving. The message that she is giving to those with Down syndrome is that you are not welcome in society, you have nothing to contribute and you are a burden on the taxpayer. Every child is a gift from God that comes into this world to love and be loved. There is a more serious disability than Down syndrome and that is to fail to love.

The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights states that our human rights are inalienable and universal. Being inalienable they cannot be taken away from us and being universal they are conferred on every human being. She wrongfully claims that, "the concept of the "Right to life "does not apply to the fetus, let alone a malformed fetus." This is untrue, the Crimes Act 1961, recognises the fetus as an unborn child and having a right to life. Section 182 “ killing unborn child” states that to kill an unborn child in New Zealand is a serious crime and on conviction, the person convicted may be imprisoned for a term of up to 14 years. The Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977, states in the long title that "abortions may be authorised after having full regard to the rights of the unborn child." Every unborn child including a child with Down syndrome is a unique and unrepeatable miracle of the Creators loving creation and should be accorded the respect due to the human person. Our human rights do not come from the state or from society. At conception the new human being is endowed by its Creator with human rights, the foundation of these rights is the right to life.  The unborn child is the weakest and most defenceless member of the human family and deserves our respect and protection. We all have a duty to defend life and the first duty of the state is to provide effective legal protection for the right to life of every member of the human family especially the weak and the defenceless. The writer falsely claims that it is not the business of anybody else, including politicians, whether a couple decide to terminate the life of their unborn child. That is incorrect, the state has a compelling interest in protecting the lives of future citizens and therefore is obligated in justice to provide effective legal protection for unborn children.

The United States Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta, states that the classification for Down syndrome is a "mild to moderate disability." Most children with Down syndrome participate in public and private educational programs. Educators and researchers are still discovering the full educational potential of people with Down syndrome. Today people with Down syndrome live at home with their families and are active participants in the educational, social and recreational activities of their community. People with Down syndrome are valued members of their families and their communities, contributing to society in a variety of ways. Women who have an unborn child diagnosed with Down syndrome need and deserve the support and compassion of the community to accept their child as a valued and loved member of the family and community.

Every abortion is the violation of the human rights of the unborn child. Abortions are excused for rare and serious reasons. under the Crimes Act. s 187A, [1] [aa], states that an abortion may be authorised on the following ground, “That there is a substantial risk that the child, if born, would be so physically or mentally abnormal as to be seriously handicapped…”This ground relates to a pregnancy of not more that 20 weeks gestation.

It is noted that the test for that section is that the handicap is serious. As the clinical definition for Down syndrome is a mild to moderate disability it is contended that Down syndrome does not meet the threshold of being serious.It is thus our Society’s opinion that; it is unlawful for certifying consultants to authorise an abortion, or for doctors to perform an abortion for Down syndrome, on the grounds of fetal abnormality as set out in the Crimes Act 1961, s [1] [aa].

Why then is the government promoting a culture of death by sanctioning and funding the unlawful killing of unborn children with Down syndrome?

Yours faithfully

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life New Zealand Inc.