Fetus Cannot Feel Pain, Expert Says

yahoo.com ^ | 4/14/06

[paudio]

FRIDAY, April 14 (HealthDay News) -- Fetuses cannot feel pain, therefore U.S. legislation requiring doctors to tell women that the fetus will feel pain, or to provide pain relief during abortions, has no scientific basis and may harm the women involved, a leading expert contends.

"This is an unwarranted piece of legislation because there is good evidence that the fetus cannot feel pain at any stage of gestation," said Stuart Derbyshire, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Birmingham, U.K.

He authored an review of the available data on the subject in the April 15 issue of the British Medical Journal.

[MHGinTN]

If a proper assessment of neonatal and fetal pain is to be undertaken, we should examine the structure of the psychological experience of “pain,” as the biological structures have been examined, and then work backwards to the fetus and neonate to decide whether it is likely or possible these psychological structures are in place (Derbyshire, 1999). Uh, you can ignore this one since the fetus isn't considered a human being yet ... pain or no pain is irrelevant if this isn't a human being. And since the issue is being debated, what suddenly gives a right to execute these beings without due process of law?

[highlander_UW]

Complete and utter bullsh!t! So preemies can feel no pain? Only a moron could believe this crap!

Only a scientist (moron)could believe this crap!

[digger48]

My boy was 7 week preemie. He wasn't a friggin "fetus". just a really little person. was only 3 1/2 pounds, Now he's 6'2" 250#

and he damn sure knew what pain was!

[AnAmericanMother]

ha!

My husband and I used to play with our oldest before she was born. He would push her gently, and she would push back. It was like playing tag with her, you could see the print of her hands and feet where she pushed against his hand.

He was trying to teach her Morse Code when I went into labor . . . < g >

But if she could feel his touch and respond, she sure as heck could have felt pain!

[grey_whiskers]

Is this guy infamiliar with a little thing called the Central Nervous System?

"There is considerable evidence" that HE doesn't have one, anyway...

NO cheers, unfortunately.

[svcw]

I always wondered about that statement "its only gas" .. I don't smile when I have gas.

[Dustbunny]

More junk science!!

[oldbrowser]

How is it known that a fetus has no pain? Do nerves magically develop as soon as a baby is born, but not a minute before?

Amazing isn't it ? People would believe "experts" who tell them the opposite of what is common sense.

[festus]

So doctor please explain how the passage of the fetus through the birth canal causes the sensation of pain to become enabled ...................

When we outlaw abortion I want this guy to go up on felony charges in the first round.

[festus]

I am forever after the liberal thinkers

Thats gotta be a hard crowd to corner. Can't be more than one or two and I'm being generous.

[HIDEK6]

I read something that said babies first sensitivity to touch begins to form at 8 weeks gest. age.

That statement sounds remarkably like Katie Couric saying, "Some say that ... etc."

[Orbiter]

So an "unalive" human kicks because:

1. Frogs need to jump soon after hatching.

2. Nerve endings, ligaments, and muscles are practicing for the day they'll "evolve" into self-sustaining organisms.

3. For similar reasons "alive" humans yawn.

[Misterioso]

If you are going to kill the fetus, what difference does it make if it's painful. Do people oppose the death penalty because it is painful?

[bjc]

Many, many thanks for this information. It clearly sets out Derbyshire position. It amounts to in large measure: A man who has been bitten by a dog will react differently when approached by an aggressive dog than one who has not. However, the fundamental hormonal response to a dog bite will be essentially the same for both individuals. In other words, an adult will feel more "pain" being pulled limb from limb than a fetus - but both will feel pain. Methinks that this is a difference that is no difference, except if you want to condone late term abortions.

[bjc]

Many thanks. It is always best to argue with the facts. Clearly Dr. Derbyshire needs to rethink his argument based on the UCL work.

[Auntie Dem]

Give every fetus one vote and Democrats will finally come to their defense!

Yeah, or even better, develop a fetal test for the "Gay Gene", and see how they start screaming it would be immoral to abort a "Gay" fetus.

Scumbag hypocrites!

[Paddlefish]

ping for later read

[Quark2005]

One research--regardless who done it or how it was done-- is enough to make it an 'established science'... /s

No, it definitely isn't - this needs a lot more peer review before it can be considered 'established science'.

Either way, valid or not, I don't see how it affects the primary reasoning behind the abortion debate - the only issue that matters is whether or not the life is human; not whether or not it is capable of physical pain.

[Quark2005]

They used to (still do in some places) tell caregivers that the retarded can't feel pain too. Even made a common practice of pulling teeth with no Novocaine.

Got a reference on that? (I'm not disputing your claim, just curious to find out more.)

[gidget7]

Well, the reference is me, and I am not really (legally) allowed to give employer info out. Suffice to say, personal experience?

There is a lot of history on the care of "the infirmed" if anyone cares to look it up, I just can't give it. Probably shouldn't have said what I did, but certainly shouldn't substantiate it.

We have had problems trying to convince behavior teams that a resident had headaches, since they couldn't tell us with words.