LET'S WEIGH EVIDENCE BEFORE ABORTION VOTE
A three-month-old foetus sucking its thumb
By Ann Widdecombe
NEXT MONDAY the House of Commons will discuss the Embryology Bill and, a week later, amendments to alter abortion law will be decided as part of the same package of legislation.
It will be the first time in 18 years that government has given time for changes to abortion law and it could be many years before Parliament gets another chance. It is therefore crucial that MPs are as well informed as possible.
For that reason many MPs would prefer that the subject should be examined by a special committee, of both Lords and Commons, so that expert scientific evidence can be taken and a report produced for consideration by MPs before they vote.
Because embryology issues were examined by the Science and Technology Committee, there is at least some such material for MPs to consider but abortion has received no attention at all.
Let me give one very obvious example. The debate around the upper time limits at which abortions should be allowed is being presented by those who want little or no change as one of viability; that is to say, the point at which a child can live outside the womb.
|
What about foetal pain? Is it right to cause pain to an unborn child?
|
|
|
Yet that is certainly not the only criterion on which the upper time limits should be based. What about foetal pain? Is it right to cause pain to an unborn child and if not then when does such a child feel pain?
The answer to that can be given only by medical science, with conflicting evidence from that profession weighed and assessed but, in the absence of a proper committee with time and the power to call as many witnesses as it chooses, MPs will instead have to decide on the basis of claim and counter claim produced within the confines of a single heated debate in the Chamber.
Then there is the issue of the psychological effects on women who have abortions and the question of the degree of counselling which should be made available before the choice is made. Again the experts are divided so, again, we should have the benefit of time and examination.
Those are but two of many issues. There is still time for government to give us a special committee because abortion was not discussed during the Lords stages of the Bill and both Houses could come to the subject afresh.
Of course it is true that some MPs, including me, have deeply held beliefs, on either side of the debate, which will not change but there are many who do not and it is they who could decide the outcome and they who, because they do not get involved in the issue unless suddenly required to legislate, are the least well - briefed.
There are few more fundamental questions than that of when life begins and the government should accord the conduct of this debate the importance it deserves, especially as it is so rare an event.
Ministers should take charge of the order of amendments to ensure fairness to all, should defer decisions on abortion until Parliament has received a proper report and grant free votes to its own benches at all stages of the Bill.
If this Government will not do that then it has scant regard for the reputation of Parliament. Indeed, throughout its period in power Labour has consistently been accused of sidelining and bullying Parliament.
If the son of the manse is really interested in listening more then let him begin by listening to this. But don’t hold your breath waiting for it to happen. Once a bully, always a bully.
Video 
LETS WEIGH EVIDENCE BEFORE ABORTION VOTE.
09.05.08, 1:25pm
Delete Gas ovens / death camps, insert womb..!
• Posted by: juan01 • Report Comment
LETS WEIGH EVIDENCE BEFORE ABORTION VOTE.
09.05.08, 1:24pm
With regards to this article...
• Posted by: juan01 • Report Comment
WHY WAIT SO LONG
08.05.08, 5:27pm
It surprises me that women wait until very late in pregnancy before deciding to terminate. My son was born prematurely at 24 weeks and is a strapping 37 year old now. There really is no excuse for deciding so late on that yummy mummy's career comes first or her figure comes first. When termination was legal at 28 weeks the baby (human being) was crushed by a machine and removed from the womb. If a termination has to take place for goodness sake it should be within the first 3 months, not when a foetus becomes a little person who can suck its thumb. There is absolutely no excuse nowadays to become pregnant, birth control is freely available and advice is also freely available.
• Posted by: Maggie59 • Report Comment
HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION
07.05.08, 11:29pm
One problem with lowering the foetal age at which life begins is that some experiments may have to be allowed to live.
The scientists might be just tinkering with some stem cells but all the time something is trying to live. It's life thats driving the chemistry, at what point does chemestry become biology?
We must accept that things die and that often we are the ones killing. Abortion is killing an actual human. Sometimes we must do this. What we must not do is say that the killing is OK because it's not human.
If we put the decision in terms of killing a very tiny human, obviously being aware of how deveopled, then I think most people can make an informed decision. Maybe put the baby on a TV monitor and let the mother control the kill shot her self.
Mind you sales of Lamb would drop if people had to stroke their lamb purchase before shooting it in the head.
• Posted by: Wayland • Report Comment
ALIEN BIRTH
07.05.08, 11:11pm
If you have something invade your body, you want it dead. A parasite or a bug of some kind. Your body will probably kill it, if not then the Doctor can give you something to kill the invader.
However unless you are pregnant by an evil raping alien then a tiny human is using your body to come into existance. It's cirtainly a chore to have your body used in this way by someone trying to get born but that's life.
When that person is born they will use emotional blackmail to get you to give your life to caring for them, that part is even worse! That's life too.
It may be convenient to kill tiny people who try to use you in this way but perhaps murder is a bit extreme?
Perhaps if you realise how these little souls get a foot hold into the world by getting a toe hold into your body then you can stop them before they start. Hint, they use sex to get things started.
Don't let them get into your body in the first place. Easier said than done I know. Anyway if they do make it, it's actually pretty good.
• Posted by: Wayland • Report Comment
To view all 'Have Your Say' comments, click this button...