I recently stumbled upon a disturbing pro-abortion TikTok video. It was simply a photo with text over it stating: “When a mother during pregnancy knows that her child will be born with some malformation or incurable disease and still decides to have it, it is not an act of nobility, it is an act of selfishness.” If that wasn’t bad enough, the video had over one million likes with thousands of supportive comments.
This reaction is no surprise, however, since many people in modern society assume that those with disabilities live unhappy lives filled with constant suffering. But is this assumption true?
In my response to the video, I discuss a study of people with locked-in syndrome (LIS), which is a medical disability that leaves people paralyzed completely – except for movement in their eyes. In the study, researchers assessed the mental and emotional wellbeing of those with LIS. Although we might assume their lives are filled with suffering and sadness, most respondents (72%) reported being happy, and only a small percentage reported having suicidal thoughts.
So the assumption that those who live with NIL (and similar conditions) have miserable lives is not aligned with scientific findings. Not only this, but encouraging abortion to prevent these so-called “miserable” lives is nothing but closeted ableism. In an age where discrimination is condemned widely and loudly, such beliefs should be firmly rejected. Nevertheless, because of our society’s rampant diminishment of the sanctity of life, many people do not think twice about supporting eugenics (disguised as mercy) for those with disabilities. It is up to us to recognize this disguise, and expose it with the charity and light of Christ.