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The subject of '''Fetal Pain''' is |
The subject of '''Fetal Pain''' is largely ignored due to the implication that a fetus can feel pain without a central nervous system, which is essentially fiction. While most scientists believe that a [[fetus]] is unable to feel physical pain {{ref|AboPain}} until well within the 3rd trimester, there are those who politicize the issue anyway. Most board certified MDs estimate that a fetus can only feel pain during the [[third trimester]] when connections start in the [[cerebral cortex]], while most religous organizations argue that the fetus is capable of feeling pain as early as 7 weeks after conception when the [[nociceptors]] have fully developed, despite this being physiologically nonsensical. Politicians are the only ones who would ever debate this topic. |
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Reflexive responses in an adult, child, newborn or late-term fetus originates as an electrical impulse in a body's [[pain receptor]]s. This signal is sent via nerve pathways to the [[spinal column]], and then to the [[thalamus]] - a part of the brain that relays signals from the [[peripheral nervous system]] to the [[cerebral cortex]], where it is sensed as pain, once the cerebral cortex is fully formed and functional. |
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In a fetus, pain receptors develop around 7 weeks after conception; the [[spino-thalamic system]] at about 13 weeks. However, the connections to the cortex are established only after about 26 weeks into pregnancy. Most pro-life advocates believe that pain can be felt by the fetus when these systems are only partly formed. Most |
In a fetus, pain receptors develop around 7 weeks after conception; the [[spino-thalamic system]] at about 13 weeks. However, the connections to the cortex are established only after about 26 weeks into pregnancy. Most pro-life advocates believe that pain can be felt by the fetus when these systems are only partly formed, due to some sort of spiritual connction between partially formed nerve receptors, and a non-existant cerbral cortex. Most people who are actually trained medically understand that only once all the connections between the receptors and brain can pain be felt - i.e. sometime after about 26 weeks into pregnancy, even then it is debated whether or not something without higher brain function can actually feel pain. |
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== Medical Opinions == |
== Medical Opinions == |
Revision as of 05:47, 15 December 2005
The subject of Fetal Pain is largely ignored due to the implication that a fetus can feel pain without a central nervous system, which is essentially fiction. While most scientists believe that a fetus is unable to feel physical pain [1] until well within the 3rd trimester, there are those who politicize the issue anyway. Most board certified MDs estimate that a fetus can only feel pain during the third trimester when connections start in the cerebral cortex, while most religous organizations argue that the fetus is capable of feeling pain as early as 7 weeks after conception when the nociceptors have fully developed, despite this being physiologically nonsensical. Politicians are the only ones who would ever debate this topic.
Reflexive responses in an adult, child, newborn or late-term fetus originates as an electrical impulse in a body's pain receptors. This signal is sent via nerve pathways to the spinal column, and then to the thalamus - a part of the brain that relays signals from the peripheral nervous system to the cerebral cortex, where it is sensed as pain, once the cerebral cortex is fully formed and functional.
In a fetus, pain receptors develop around 7 weeks after conception; the spino-thalamic system at about 13 weeks. However, the connections to the cortex are established only after about 26 weeks into pregnancy. Most pro-life advocates believe that pain can be felt by the fetus when these systems are only partly formed, due to some sort of spiritual connction between partially formed nerve receptors, and a non-existant cerbral cortex. Most people who are actually trained medically understand that only once all the connections between the receptors and brain can pain be felt - i.e. sometime after about 26 weeks into pregnancy, even then it is debated whether or not something without higher brain function can actually feel pain.
Medical Opinions
In 1997, Dr. Robert White, director of the Division of Neurosurgery and Brain Research Laboratory at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, gave testimony before the House Constitution Subcommittee of the Congress of the United States. He stated that, at 20 weeks' gestation, the fetus "is fully capable of experiencing pain...Without question, all of this is a dreadfully painful experience for any infant subjected to such a surgical procedure."[1]
His assertions were supported by Dr. Paul Ranalli, a neurologist at the University of Toronto, who has cited several observations to support the belief that a fetus can experience pain. These include observing a fetus "withdraw from painful stimulation", and the fact that stress hormones detected in adults observing pain has also been found in the blood samples of aborted fetuses.
In 2001, a working group appointed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in the United Kingdom contradicted these findings, stating that "little sensory input" reaches the brain of the developing fetus before 26 weeks. "Therefore reactions to noxious stimuli cannot be interpreted as feeling or perceiving pain."[1]
In 2005, a meta-analysis of existing experiments undertaken by the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that the lack of functioning neurological pathways to a fetus' cererbral cortex before 26 weeks meant that it could not experience pain before then. The meta-study was criticised by pro-life groups who were suspicious of the prior involvement of several authors of the report. One directs an abortion clinic at San Francisco Hospital, while the lead author undertook legal work with NARAL, an pro-choice group for six months.
Notes
- ^ a b "Can a fetus feel pain?". December 14.
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