guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,1886242,00.htmlMoving ultrasound images showing 12-week-old foetuses sucking their thumbs and appearing to “walk” do not prove they have feelings and** provide no scientific evidence for lowering the age limit for abortion, experts said** yesterday.
The debate surrounding when unborn babies can feel - and so the age up until which they should be aborted - was reignited by 4D scans, three-dimensional images with movement, that were pioneered by Professor Stuart Campbell, former professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at King’s College, London.
[sign]Those casting doubt on whether a smile is really a smile are…** defending the indefensible**. [sign]I now believe the maximum age for abortion should be cut to 18 weeks so we do not abort foetuses who exhibit the signs of humanity these images portray. Of course, I have been accused of “sentimentality”. Maybe this is right, but I defy anyone to see these pictures and not pause to wonder if they might be wrong.
With the 1967 Abortion Act, terminations could be performed up to 28 weeks for “social” abortions. In 1990, the law was changed to 24 weeks. At that time, a baby born at 23 weeks had less than a 10 per cent chance of survival. Now, it has a 66 per cent chance and we must change the law again.
I agree that viewing the u/s should be part of informed consent. A friend of mine called me one night absolultely desperate. Her son’s girlfriend, who I’ll call Ann, is pregnant and had an appt. with an abortion clinic the next am. She asked me to talk to Ann. I was unable to reach Ann but advised my friend to encourage Ann to view the u/s before consenting. Ann could not consent to the abortion and is pregnant (as far as I know).IMHO anyone that wants to abort a “fetus” should be required to see the 4D Moving ultrasound images. Then they should be asked to explain how this image does not show a human child. But, then it is just my opinion.