Outrage as Richard Dawkins claims it is 'immoral' not to abort Down's Syndrome babies
RICHARD Dawkins has sparked fury after controversially claiming that it would be "immoral" for a woman not to abort a baby with Down's Syndrome.
The scientist and author faced a backlash from parents of children with the genetic disorder and members of the public over his comment.
In a bluntly worded tweet on the issue, he wrote: 'Abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice'.
He made the comment in response to another site user who said they would be faced with "a real ethical dilemma" if they became pregnant with a Down's Syndrome baby.
However, he faced a barrage of criticism, with one mother of a Down's Syndrome child writing: 'I would fight til my last breath for the life of my son. No dilemma'.
@InYourFaceNYer Abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
People with Down's Syndrome can and do live full and rewarding lives, they also make a valuable contribution to our society
Newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy also joined the debate, tweeting: 'oh dear. richard dawkins just became indefensible'.
Professor Dawkins later clarified his original comment, saying: 'A woman whom I know & like said she'd be uncertain what to do if pregnant with Downs. I said what I'd do & why. Happens to be what most do.'
He later added: 'I OBVIOUSLY wouldn't TELL a woman what to do. Up to her'.
He also said that he would not apologise 'for approaching moral philosophic questions in a logical way'.
Some users supported the God Delusion author, agreeing with his assertion that there is a difference in deciding on a termination before a child is born, and suggesting after the child is born that it should have been aborted.
Woman said she wouldn't know whether to abort. I told her what I would do & why. I OBVIOUSLY wouldn't TELL a woman what to do. Up to her.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) August 20, 2014
The Down's Syndrome Association issued a statement in response to his comment.
They said: "People with Down's Syndrome can and do live full and rewarding lives, they also make a valuable contribution to our society.
"At the Down's Syndrome Association, we do not believe Down's Syndrome in itself should be a reason for termination, however, we realise that families must make their own choice.
"The DSA strives to ensure that all prospective parents are given accurate and up to date information about the condition and what life might be like today for someone with Down's syndrome."
Previously, Professor Dawkins caused controversy on Twitter when he said the world's Muslims had won fewer Nobel Prizes than Trinity College Cambridge.
He has also claimed that fairy tales and believing in Father Christmas could be damaging to children.