The 70s want their fetal pain and viability science back from the abortion lobby
Outdated Science and the Abortion Lobby: Time for an Update
Despite the Left pretending to “follow the science,” the abortion lobby hasn’t kept theirs up to date. Spurning medical research from the last several decades — which is meant to both improve standard care practices for physicians and inform policymakers — abortion supporters are sticking with the science of the 1970s. As they refuse to develop their talking points past those used to get Roe v. Wade through the federal court system, the abortion industry is propagating misinformation and harming patients through a lack of informed consent.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): A Perpetrator of Outdated Science
While the organization is meant to lead medical experts in maternal-fetal care, ACOG states, “The science conclusively establishes that a human fetus does not have the capacity to experience pain until after at least 24–25 weeks [about five and a half months].” In the same breath, however, they also maintain that “facts are important.” Which one is it exactly? Because their former claim fails to recognize the most recent developments in our understanding of fetal pain.
While there does seem to be a real consensus that fetal pain begins at 20 weeks at the very latest, some publications (including one written by Drs. Derbyshire and Bockmann in 2020) demonstrate the high likelihood that fetal pain is possible as early as 12 weeks.
In studying fetal development, we know the physiological pain system (the cortical subplate and thalamus) is present by 12 weeks, but to study whether the preborn child actually feels pain via the developed structures this early would violate bioethical practice not only in the possible infliction of pain upon the fetus but in the invasive nature of the research upon the mother. Consequently, this is really the closest we are able to ethically get at this time.
Unfortunately, when major medical organizations like ACOG deny such research, their misinformation affects both abortion legislation and the advancement and practice of fetal surgery. While some fetal surgeries are performed as early as 16 weeks, the myth that the preborn child cannot feel pain until 24 weeks can lead to physicians feeling they do not need to provide fetal analgesia. Even if the data on fetal pain was not as clear as it is, morality should encourage medical professionals to err on the side of caution rather than to unwittingly do harm.
But fetal pain is not the only misinformed science propagated by the abortion lobby.
The Misrepresentation of Fetal Viability
Further along in pregnancy, when discussing fetal viability, abortion supporters work even harder to push the extreme and outdated viability limits under Roe, ignoring their (now reversed) victory in Planned Parenthood v. Casey which at least acknowledged the relativity of viability to our society’s ability to advance medical technologies.
As an example, the academic spin room of the abortion lobby, the Guttmacher Institute, “updated” their definition of viability in August 2022, stating, “A fetus generally reaches viability between 24 and 28 weeks LMP (gestational age).”
This definition could only be considered up-to-date if it was made in 1973. It’s half a century later, however, and as previously noted, viability is not a fixed gestational time point.
The Casey opinion notes fetal viability to be 28 weeks when Roe was passed down in 1973, but even the pro-abortion American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now notes the window of “periviability” where there is a chance of survival after preterm birth as early as 20 weeks to 25 weeks and 6 days gestation due to recent advances in the field. In fact, the
Why have some states chosen to declare fetal viability at 24 weeks gestation despite advancements in medical research and technology?
Licies-later-abortions” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>state-by-state abortion policies page in 2021 to declare fetal viability at 24 weeks gestation. This is despite the fact that medical advancements have greatly increased the chances of survival for preterm infants as early as 22 weeks gestation. In fact, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015 found that infants born at 22 weeks had a survival rate of 10% and a rate of survival without severe disability of 3%.
By ignoring these advancements and clinging to an arbitrary and outdated viability limit, the abortion lobby is perpetuating the false narrative that late-term abortions are necessary for the health and well-being of the mother. This ignores the fact that alternative options, such as early delivery and neonatal intensive care, can provide medical care and support to both the mother and the preterm infant.
Moving Forward: Accurate Science and Informed Decisions
It is essential that the abortion lobby and its supporters update their understanding of the science surrounding abortion and fetal development. By refusing to acknowledge the advances in medical research and technology, they are perpetuating misinformation and harming patients.
Policy decisions regarding abortion should be based on accurate and up-to-date information. This includes considering the potential for fetal pain and the increasing viability of preterm infants. By taking into account the most recent scientific findings, policymakers can make informed decisions that prioritize the well-being of both the mother and the preborn child.
Additionally, healthcare professionals have a responsibility to provide accurate and balanced information to their patients. Informed consent should include a discussion of the potential for fetal pain and the available alternatives to late-term abortions. By ensuring that patients have access to comprehensive information, they can make decisions that align with their personal values and beliefs.
It is time for the abortion lobby to update their talking points and embrace the advancements in science and medicine. By doing so, they can contribute to a more informed and compassionate discussion surrounding abortion and reproductive healthcare.
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