Kill your first-born?

A circular letter I received in the e-mail makes a valid point.

A worried woman went to her gynaecologist and said: “Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even one year old, and I’m pregnant again. I don’t want kids so close together.”

The doctor said: “OK, and what do you want me to do?’
She said: “I want you to end my pregnancy, and I’m counting on your help with this.”

The doctor thought a while, then said: “I think I have a better solution for your problem. It’s less dangerous for you too.”

She smiled, thinking the doctor was going to accept her request.  He continued: “So that you won’t have to take care of two babies at the same time, let’s kill the one in your arms. This way you could rest for some time before the other one is born. If we’re going to kill one of them, it doesn’t matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.

The lady was horrified and said: “No, doctor! How terrible! It’s a crime to kill a child!”
“I agree,”, the doctor replied, “but you seemed to be OK with it.”

The doctor had convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that’s already been born and one that’s still in the womb. The crime is the same.

Dick Townsend, Johannesburg