Fetal Pain and Abortion
Scientific research generally indicates that the fetus is incapable of feeling pain until at least the 24th week. Many pro-life activists strongly believe in the ability of a fetus to perceive pain, and have introduced legislation in line with this belief. However, fetal pain is not a major legal issue in the debate about abortion, and has not been a deciding factor in any US Supreme Court decision, including the 1973 Roe v. Wade.
Such legislation, if passed would likely affect a very small percentage of abortions, as most are performed before week 20.
Read more about this topic: Neonatal Perception
Famous quotes containing the words pain and/or abortion:
“There is some joy in weeping. For our tears
Fill up the cup, then wash our pain away.”
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)
“... abortion opponents love little babies as long as they are in somebody else’s uterus.”
—Joycelyn Elders (b. 1933)