Leading Researcher Confirms Unborn Children Can Feel Pain at 20 Weeks

LifeNews.com ^ | August 6, 2008 | Steven Ertelt

[cpforlife.org]

Bombay, India (LifeNews.com) -- As people in India join a national abortion debate following an appeals court's rejection of a couple's request for a late-term abortion, the issue of fetal pain is coming into play. One aspect of the debate revolves around whether or not unborn children have the capacity to feel pain.

Kanwaljeet Anand, a pediatrician and fetal pain specialist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, is considered the top American expert on the subject.

Anand has conducted research on the subject for over two decades and he also happens to be a native Indian.

Anand told the Telegraph of India newspaper that scientists have seen how operations and other procedures involving unborn children in the womb have shown clear evidence that a baby feels pain before birth.

“The evidence is undeniable," he told the newspaper. "Even a 20-week foetus is likely to feel pain, and excruciating pain."

He told the newspaper he thinks unborn children even have the ability to feel more intense pain, including in an abortion, than newborn babies, children or even adults.

“This is because pain transmission pathways have developed in the foetus, but not the pain modulation pathways that are not effective until six weeks after birth," he explained.

“There is more than enough evidence now. But no one is as blind as someone who doesn't want to see," he said, adding that not all doctors have been convinced by his studies.

Shashi Wadhwa, a senior professor of anatomy at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, told the Telegraph that she's unsure if unborn children can feel pain but admits it is a possibility.

“At 20 weeks, the physical apparatus for pain signal transmission is in place,” Wadhwa said. “It is still unclear whether a foetus interprets a sensation as unpleasant."

[cpforlife.org]

20 weeks from conception

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

It’s amazing what leftists are unwilling to admit. It’s absurd that such research is necessary. Perhaps a few leftists will peel off their onion of denial. Others really don’t care so long as they don’t hear anyone screaming.

[mockingbyrd]

But no one is as blind as someone who doesn't want to see,

Powerful. You would think that this would be a case on erring on the side of caution, just in case babies felt pain. You would think.......

[cpforlife.org]

The truth is hate to those who hate the truth.

[Phantom Lord]

With Obama stating that "fatherhood begins at conception", it is imperitive for someone ask him, on camera, "If fatherhood begins at conception, does that mean that life begins at conception?"

His stuttering and stammering would be a specticle to behold.

[PGR88]

20 weeks? I am sure it is much earlier than that.

[cpforlife.org]

I knew he gave a speech on fatherhood, but since I can’t stand to watch/listen to him I guess i missed that! You’re right he would spaz all over that question.

From google:

Ad asks Obama: ‘If fatherhood begins at conception, when does life ... Jul 1, 2008 ... Holding his squirming son Samuel in his arms, Perkins asks Obama “If, as you say, fatherhood begins at conception, when does life begin?” ...
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=13098

Jill Stanek - Obama, if fatherhood begins at conception... Obama, if fatherhood begins at conception... Just up on YouTube by Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, this is absolutely fabulous. ...
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/06/obama_if_father.html -

Barack Obama says fatherhood begins at conception, but not life ... Barack Obama says fatherhood begins at conception. Big thanks to Tony Perkins at the Family Research Council for putting on YouTube an important follow up ...
http://stevehickey.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/barack-obama-says-fatherhood-begins-at-conception-but-not-life/

Ad asks Obama: ‘If fatherhood begins at conception, when does life ... Perkins asks Obama “If, as you say, fatherhood begins at conception, when does life begin?” .... How Obama’s Catholics Will Dodge the Infanticide Question ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039371/posts -

[Hank Kerchief]

“At 20 weeks, the physical apparatus for pain signal transmission is in place,” Wadhwa said. “It is still unclear whether a foetus interprets a sensation as unpleasant.”

Nor will it ever be. Conscious experience is entirely subjective and it is impossible to know what any creature's conscious experience is. The attempt to make this totally untenable argument about what a fetus, or anything else experiences, the basis of any moral choice is absolutely wrong. One's experience has nothing to do with what is right or wrong. Would you be opposed to eliminating disease causing organisms if it was discovered they experience pain? ... though such a discovery is impossible, just as it is impossible to know what a fetus or any other organism experiences.

Abortion is wrong, but it is not necessary to tell lies to defend that position. The claim to know what any organism consciously experiences is a lie. It is the same lie that all animal rights activists use. To use this lie to oppose abortion is itself morally wrong.

Hank

[Pikachu_Dad]

WOW.

That is amazing stuff.

God sure created a wonder.