Pain is not well understood, but it's clear that animals feel it, although they lack human self consciousness. It's inconceivable to me that fetuses don't feel it as well, at least at the point that they have developed a nervous system, which I believe is pretty early.
One researcher scoffs at the idea that he has a political agenda. Sorry, but just about everyone in academia has a political agenda these days, and there are increasingly fewer and fewer scientists who can be trusted to be objective about controversial issues. The issue that underlies this report, although it remains unmentioned, is, of course, abortion. It would be politically incorrect for pro-aborts to admit that their victims feel pain.
Maybe he doesn't. But he'll never get tenure or any more government grant money if he finds that babys in the womb feel pain.
Amazing how this study arrives at the same time.
Pro-aborts also abhor required ultrasound for the same reason: it lets a woman see what she's really disposing of (and it ain't just a clump o' cells).