The sign of a retarded nation.

Resources are dedicated to non-productivity, which in turn holds more rights than the productive

Where are the resources for the gifted children?

Retarded thinking. Retarded action.

The Great British Empire has left the station.

Sandra Ashworth, Reading, Berkshire

The amendment tabled by Baroness Masham, who is herself disabled, is asking for a level-playing field in abortion.
Currently 'abled' babies can be aborted up to 24 weeks and disabled babies up to birth. One law for one and a more ruthless law for the other. This makes a complete mockery of our lip service to anti-discrimination legislation and our claims to respect the rights of the disabled.
Well done, Lady Masham, and shame on the people making such horrifying comments about those with disability.

Josephine Quintavalle, London,

Everyone who has posted on this seems very opposed to Baroness Masham of Ilton's proposals. One must remember though that feotus' with a cleft palet (sp?) can also be aborted after term, whilst really they have no real kinds of mental / physical impairments.
Further, it's important to regard recent scientific research where it is proven that feotus' even before term have feelings. Whilst I understand that it is life changing and exceedingly difficult (maybe that's an understatement) for those who have to bring up a disabled child, in light of medical adancements, surely the burden would be lifted somewhat. It's just that aborting babies with disabilities I feel is almost reminiscent of Hitler killing disabled people as they were deemed imperfect and not worthy of life.

Suz, London, England

The United Kingdom is committed to anti-discrimination laws, and these include protection for the disabled in our so-called equal society.
Well done to Baroness Masham. Discrimination begins in the womb. Abortion is permitted up to birth for disability but only up to 24 weeks if you happen to be 'able-bodied; whatever that means.
To read these contributions in favour of such discrimination makes me very uncomfortable indeed.
Josephine Quintavalle London

Josephine Quintavalle, London,

Anyone forced to bear a severely disable child under this amendment should insist Baroness Masham of Ilton takes personal responsibility for the resulting child for the rest of it's life.

Thalia, London,

Baroness Marsham lives in cloud cuckoo land in her assumptions about such mothers. Surely this is a case where abortion makes a lot of sense - not least on economic grounds, due to the reduced burden on the NHS & the tax payer.

Ray, Dartmouth,

I hope Baroness Marsham has the billions that it will cost to keep these children when their parents give them up. It makes me howl with laughter when people totally unconnected to those giving birth iimpose their view. My immediate thought is 'how dare they?' You'd have to be pretty arrogant to force your view of how someone elses life should be onto them, wouldn't you? Mind you, 'arrogant' is exactly what our current politicians are.

Judy , Liverpool, england

Madness! Utter madness!

Disabled people should be valued? Does the noble lady try to suggest that we ought to ensure that a proportion of disabled foetuses be allowed to carry to term so that she can have her quota?

There is obviously a huge range of disabilities. They range from those that are trivial to those that are hugely difficult to treat and manage, and which condemn the person born with such to live a very abject life.

Indeed, it strikes me that the ONE situation where abortion might be most justified is when it's used to prevent the birth of massively deformed and disabled babies.

It's all well and good for the noble Lady to value disabled folk. It's quite another when your family life is wrecked, other children neglected, and parents worn to a frazzle from trying to provide care for a disabled youngster.

And what if the child that is born reaches a stage where its parents have died? Who is going to provide 24/7 care then? The NHS won't or can't.

Chris Palmer, Southampton, England