GOP wants law to define when fetuses feel pain

[Kadie]

GOP wants law to define when fetuses feel pain
POSTED: 2:59 p.m. EST, November 30, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) -- While they still can, House Republicans are looking at scheduling a vote next week on a fetal pain abortion bill in a parting shot at incoming majority Democrats and a last bid for loyalty from the GOP's base of social conservatives.

snip...
The vote would be the first on the measure, which was introduced in September and referred to a health subcommittee, where no action on it was taken. Johnson said his group wants a House vote to test support for the measure.

The bill, by Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, defines a 20-week-old fetus as a "pain-capable unborn child" -- a highly controversial threshold among scientists. It also directs the Health and Human Services Department to develop a brochure stating "that there is substantial evidence that the process of being killed in an abortion will cause the unborn child pain."

Abortion providers would be required to inform the mothers that evidence exists that the procedure would cause pain to the child and offer the mothers anesthesia for the baby. The mothers would accept or reject the anesthesia by signing a form. The bill allows for an exception for certified medical emergencies.

more...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/30/GOP.abortion.ap/index.html

[tridim]

1. Is Santorum going to put a fetus on the stand to testify?

Sounds about right up his alley.

[BuyingThyme]

2. These nutbags will be inventing issues until

they destroy the world.

[Warpy]

3. Luckily for women, that research has been done within the

past couple of years AND PUBLISHED. The brain structures that receive and interpret pain simply aren't there until sometime in the last two months of gestation.

Abortions done that late in the pregnancy are called PREMATURE BIRTHS. Unless the fetus is anencephalic and that has been discovered that late, a near uncertainty unless the woman hasn't received any prenatal care at all (thanks to stingy GOPs), attempts are made to preserve its life.

Although there may be some spinal cord loop reflex activity present, it's not PAIN generated. Without the part of the brain responsible for interpreting sensations as pain, it's nothing.

[pnwmom]

4. Thanks for the info, Warpy.

[Ilsa]

5. Only they don't want science and medical research to indicate

when the neurological system is mature enough to feel pain. They want the law to be in accordance with whatever fairy tales they've dreamed up.

[SoCalDem]

6. The GOP should STFU, and work on stuff that affects us ALL

for a change.

All the peripheral issues should go back up on the dusty shelf where they belong..

Let the citizens decide on their own if the want an abortion or if they want to burn that flag or whatever..

It's HIGH TIME that our government go back to minding things for the COMMON GOOD..not the specific niche legislation they love so much..