Would this be considered an Abortion?

Question

First off, I am Pro-Life, but a friend is living through something...to make a long, tiring, sad story short...and ER doctor gave a choice during labor to my friend...Your wife or the baby? He chose his wife...The baby is in Heaven now and he believes that he caused an abortion...What do you think?

Answer 1

What a horrible situation.  I'm sad that he's even thinking that way...

An abortion is a conscious choice to terminate the life of the child, yes - but you said his wife was in labor, which means that either she was at term and something went terribly wrong - in this case it would be a stillbirth - or she was in very early pre-term labor and there was something wrong with the pregnancy or the fetus - in which case probably little could have been done for the baby.  Of course I'm just speculating on the situation, but this guy is putting really unnecessary guilt on himself.

I mean, how would he have felt if he had chosen the baby's life instead of his wife's?  How sad.  I hope he seeks counseling.

Answer 2

It's a sad story, but I think he did the right thing.

Answer 3

No, that would not be an abortion. Sorry to hear that your friend had to make such a decision.

Answer 4

No one can say if it was the right thing because its just apart of life. I think maybe the wife would be more important than an unborn baby.

Answer 5

That is SO sad. It's the hardest thing anyone would ever do but I think he made the right choice. Remind him that the doctors probably would have made it for him. And they would have picked the same

Answer 6

I dont think it was, it's not like they didn't want the child. It's a sad choice to have to make. I don't have a significant other and my family knows my request is to chose my son over me. I'd rather give him life and let him have a shot then live without him. Being single and alone has made him my center of everything! He's my motivation, the reason I'm in college and working so hard.

However in that case I agree that they did nothing wrong, it's sad though. It must have been a very drastic situation to have endured.  

Answer 7

No, I would not consider that an abortion. That is a VERY tough situation. I couldn't even imagine. I know me and my husband have had that discussion before and he chose me as well. We are both very Pro-life as well.  

Answer 8

no not an abortion at all. like others said that was a life threatening condition and he choose his wife over their baby. so anyways at least the baby is resting in peace.

i'm pro-life as well

Answer 9

I have no advice on this one except that your friend and his wife must be going through h**l and I am terribly sorry any one ever has to experience that...that being said he has to know that sometimes the best laid plans dont go as expected and unfortunately he had to make a horrible decision and he can't blame himself for it...talk to him about speaking with a counselor on his feelings it sounds like he needs to talk to someone trained in this sort of thing. God bless...oh and that baby is definitely in heaven and God is raising him or her until the daddy meets them one day

Answer 10

Well this is kinda strange since you didn't give enough information I will attempt to analyze what we do know.

You say that he could have chosen to let her have the baby, this would imply that the baby would survive, but she would die doing so.

This isn't logical.

Theres not a whole lot going on in there that would cause the mother to die, this isn't the 1800's.

Now you make sure that we understand that you are a pro-lifer, are you?

Sounds more like you're trying to advocate abortion, with an illogical scenario.

[Edit]

OK give her a C-section rip out the baby and pump in more blood to the mother.

If anyone screwed up it was the incompetent doctor.

I guess they chose convenience over life.

countrysmurfett: Yeah I'm confussed too.

If the wife was in labour even after 26-29 weeks the baby could be saved.

Answer 11

he def did the right thing,,,,,,not saying i dont love my children and wouldnt be devistated if anything happens to the, but ur husband/wife is there forever...your kids eventually grow up and move out....u r together until death do us part......you can always have more children, but if you are with your sole mate(and yes i believe in soul mates) then you will never be that hhappy again.... but even if he wouldve doen the otha way...he wouldve felt guilty for his wife.....either way theres goin to be some kind of guilt or regret...but in the end; i do believe he mdae the right decision!

Answer 12

Personally, I don't think that's considered an abortion.

Answer 13

What kind of dr puts that kind of pressure on a husband/dad to begin with?? In most instances THEY make that decision based on the medical experience facing them. And in any case, dr's would still do their best to save BOTH. If the the husband told the dr to remove the baby or else his wife would die, dr's would still try to give the baby a chance but attempting life support. I think that fact what would make it not an abortion.

Answer 14

No i wouldnt consider it abortion. That's so sad though, i'm sorry to hear it.

He did the right thing though, if he chose the baby im sure the baby would have a bad live being brought up by a single parent. itd be hard.

Answer 15

no, he made the obvious choice. i would have done the exact same thing. he's okay:) thats a sad situation though.

Answer 16

That's not considered an Abortion.  

Answer 17

An abortion is the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. The spontaneous expulsion of a fetus or embryo before the 20th week of gestational age is commonly known as a miscarriage. Induced abortion is the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus by medical, surgical, or other means at any point during human pregnancy for therapeutic or elective reasons.

Technically yes it is.

How funny how many of you say its not because he had to choose.

It is in no way a stillbirth if the fetus was alive at the time he had to choose.

Answer 18

honestly I think that he made the right choice.  I mean, how would that baby grow up not ever knowing who his/her mother is?  I personally am not in favor of abortion, and I do think it's wrong, but I also feel that every woman needs to make her own decision, as it is up to her (and the father of the child)

my philosophy is simple - against abortion? Don't have one...

but to answer your question, since she had to have the abortion to save her own life, I think he made the right decision.  She can always have another baby, but that baby can not have another mother

Answer 19

No, it was a life threatening situation.

That's like thinking that if he chose the baby then he commited murder.

Answer 20

im confussed if the wife was in labour was she ful term and gave birth to a stillborn baby or did the drs perform a d&c early in the pregnancy as shed gone into prem labour its def not a bad abortion if it was as the husband choose who he knows etc he has bonded with his wife but never met the baby therefor making it easier on him either way it was done for medical reasons

Answer 21

My husband and I had this talk before I went into labor with our daughter.  I told him that it would be his choice and that I would stick behind him either way.  He told me that he would choose me over the baby.  In this scenario it is not considered an abortion.  He had to make a choice.  I believe most men in that circumstance would have chosen his wife over the baby.  

Answer 22

That IS pretty much an abortion, but I understand. Most anyone would do the same thing.

I would like to know the story, however.  

Answer 23

No, it was not an abortion. That is one of the most awful choices to make but it happens.No one should guilt him. People should support him.