Congenital birth defects: Harlequin ichthyosis

This is not a reason for abortion: for one thing, it is not generally detected before birth. Until recently, harlequin ichthyosis was always fatal, generally in the womb, but now a few babies have been born live. A few have survived and even lead reasonably normal lives with a lot of care and skin-scrubbing with mild acid. You see, there's something wrong with their connective tissue. It's too strong, so their skin is tight: so tight that the inner linings of their eyes bulge out with the pressure. This is a painful disease with a dismal prognosis. If it were detected in the womb, a woman might well choose abortion if only to prevent a child from suffering.