For decades, abortion has remained one of the most controversial topics among activists, politicians, philosophers, and doctors alike in the United States. It is still regarded as a touchy but heated subject by most Americans today, and it never ceases to find its way into national headlines. For example, abortion became a topic in the recent health care reform bill, and in our last issue the MH News highlighted the latest Utah abortion bill. Although there are infinite aspects to the debate on abortion, three seem to play a critical role to both sides: the role of science, health, and medicine.
How might science, health, and medicine be beneficial to both pro-life and pro-choice advocates? A reoccurring theme in abortion debates is the condition of the fetus inside the mother’s womb during different stages of gestation, or pregnancy. The human fetus is a very sensitive and complicated subject to study. In order to understand its characteristics and capabilities throughout gestation, scientists and doctors from fields such as developmental biology, neuroscience, and obstetrical medicine are constantly working to publish their findings in this field of research.
Politicians waste no time in using scientific definitions and the latest research findings in order to support their prospective arguments. A prime example can be seen in Nebraska’s abortion bill, which passed through its Senate just last week. Most current abortion bills restrict abortions after 24 weeks of gestation. This stage is generally regarded as the point in which a fetus can live on its own outside of the womb, known as fetal viability. However, the new abortion bill proposes that abortion restrictions be based not on fetal viability, but rather the point in gestation at which the fetus can feel pain.
According to supporters of the bill, scientific research shows that the fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks, the point at which the bill proposes that abortions be restricted. However, other research groups believe that fetuses feel pain much later. Mark Rosen, an obstetrical anesthesiologist at the University of California at San Francisco, says that pain is not felt until at least 28 weeks. According to him, pain receptors form around 8 weeks of gestation. However, in order for the fetus to feel pain, the pain signals must be sent to the cortex for processing from the thalamus, which does not form for another 20 weeks.
Some pro-life advocates argue that because fetuses move away from surgical instruments like needles inside the womb, they are fully capable of feeling and reacting to pain. Rosen, on the other hand, believes that this is a reflex controlled by the spinal cord, not a conscious reaction made by the fetus. Based on the variability of the claims alone, it is obvious that determining fetal pain is no simple task with simple answers.
Another common debate is the point at which pregnancy technically begins. Currently, most laws say that gestation occurs when the embryo implants itself in the wall of the uterus. However, five years ago U.S. Senator, Samuel Brown of Kansas, attempted to pass the Federal Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act. The bill mainly touched upon fetal pain, but also suggested that the law consider the beginning of pregnancy to begin at the moment of fertilization. This bill created major controversy because if this definition were used by the law, emergency contraceptives such as Plan B would be considered forms of abortion, and pro-life advocates might try to outlaw them. As there is no clear testable hypothesis to this question, it remains a matter of opinion and not a scientific fact.
In addition to scientific evidence, the mental and physical health of the mother and fetus tie into the debate. Most abortion laws restrict abortions after a certain period, unless the mental and physical health of the mother is at risk as a result of the pregnancy. Some pro-life advocates say that the unborn child should not suffer as a result of the mother’s mental health issues. This, too, is reflected in the recent Nebraska abortion bill, which would not name mental health as an exception to the 20-week abortion restriction. However, pro-choice advocates will argue that not allowing a mentally-unstable mother the right to an abortion might increase the risk of depression and suicide, further endangering the lives of both the child and mother.
Abortion is obviously not an easy topic to assess and argue. However, the use of science, medicine and health offer an alternative approach for pro-life and pro-choice advocates, allowing the people to see the facts and hypotheses about what really goes on during conception and beyond.
Related posts:
- Stupak-Pitts Amendment prevents insurance coverage of abortion
- Revisiting the Utah abortion policy
- Where McCain and Obama stand on hot button issues in the scientific community
- Mull it over: “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act”
- Sex Out Loud
