By the Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues
A new report from the UK All Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group (APPPG) and their secretariat at Right to Life UK points to evidence that unborn babies can feel pain from even earlier in pregnancy than was previously thought. The report features an article in the Journal of Medical Ethics of an article “Reconsidering Fetal Pain,” by Dr. Stuart WG Derbyshire. Dr. Derbyshire asserts that recent developments in neuroscience indicate the possibility for “an immediate and unreflective pain experience mediated by the developing function of the nervous system from as early as 12 weeks.” Co-author John C Bockmann PA contends, “Fetal analgesia and anaesthesia should thus be standard for abortions in the second trimester, especially after 18 weeks…”
Lord David Alton points out that the last time a study was done on this was 1996. “The science and our knowledge has moved on considerably since then. The case for prudential safeguards and protection of the vulnerable is now overwhelming.”