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When Does Life Begin? Medical experts debate abortion issue. Do we even know? |
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The generally recognized pro-life stance is life begins at fertilization. So the pro-choice stance is, no, it doesn’t. … Right?
Wrong.
In every political season, abortion emerges as one of the most hotly debated topics. It draws in everybody—from the religious to the political to the activists. But what about the scientists?
In 2006, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Ethics published their opinion on “Using Preimplantation Embryos for Research.” In it, they say, “If the preimplantation embryo is left or maintained outside the uterus, it cannot develop into a human being.” Did you catch that: “… into a human being”?
The question for many doctors and scientists is not, “When does life begin?” but, “When does that life become a human being?” Pro-lifers say it’s a human from the start. How could it be anything else? “Scientifi c and medical discoveries over the past three decades have only verified and solidified this age-old truth,” says the conservative-leaning American College of Pediatricians on its Web site. “The difference between the individual in its adult stage and in its zygotic stage is not one of personhood but of development.”
“Pro-choice docs would say that it is not their business to determine for a patient when life begins,” says Diana Philip, interim executive director of the National Coalition of Abortion Providers and its sister organization, the Abortion Conversation Project. “Ultimately each patient determines the value and definition of life and that definition lies within her own mind and heart.”
So the question to our debaters, who kindly agreed to tackle this controversial topic, was simply—and yet not so simply—”Do we know when human life begins?”
Now, let the debate begin.
(You can get in on the debate here . Scroll down to "Debates!")
YES
Since the mechanism by which mammals reproduce has been known for at least the last 150 years, any biologist in the world can tell you that a mammal’s life begins when the sperm from the father unites with the egg from the mother. This process is called fertilization, and when the DNA from the father and mother have combined, the egg is called a fertilized egg, or zygote. When the zygote splits into two cells, it is called a two-celled embryo. When it splits into four cells, it is called a four-celled embryo, etc. The definition of “embryo” is “the youngest form of a being.”
If this being is nourished and protected, it will proceed uninterrupted through the developmental stages of embryo, fetus, newborn, toddler, child, teen, adult and aged adult: one continuous existence. This being never develops into a pig, a frog or a tree, but only into a human. This being is therefore, by definition, a living human being.
This fact is very inconvenient for those who want to treat embryonic and fetal human beings as property. The real argument in the abortion debate is whether or not this human being is a “person,” with all the legal rights and protections of “personhood.”
Those who traffic in human tissue argue that he or she is not. This is the same argument used in the Dred Scott decision in which the Supreme Court of the United States declared that black Americans, though human, are not “persons” under the law.
As long as “personhood” is denied to human beings in their embryonic and fetal stages, the holocaust of abortion will continue.
NO What makes us so sure we know when human life begins? Despite our best efforts, we do not even really know when human life ends, as the Terry Schiavo case reminded us. If it is so achingly difficult to know whether someone is dead or alive when she is in front of people who love her, how much harder it is to be certain when life begins, especially when we cannot see it with our own eyes.
Biologist Scott Gilbert, an expert in human
development, tells us that there are at least four distinct moments
that can be thought of as the beginning of human life. Each can be said
to be biologically accurate.
The genetic view (the position held by the Roman Catholic Church and
many religious conservatives) holds that life begins with the
acquisition of a novel genome; it is a kind of genetic determinism.
Those who hold the embryologic view think life begins when the embryo
undergoes gastrulation, and twinning is no longer possible; this occurs
about 14 days into development. (Some mainline Protestant religions
espouse a similar view.) Proponents of the neurological view adhere to
brainwave criteria; life begins when a distinct EEG pattern can be
detected, about 24 to 27 weeks. (Some Protestant churches affirm this).
Interestingly, life is also thought to end when the EEG pattern is no
longer present. Finally, one can say that life begins at or near birth,
measured by fetal viability outside the mother’s body. (Judaism affirms
something close to this position.) After all, somewhere between 50 and
60 percent of all embryos conceived miscarry.
So, when does life begin? I do not think we can know
this with any more certainty than we know when life ends. People of
faith, and people of good conscience, are going to have to agree to
disagree—with a good dose of humility—on matters of life and death
Last updated and/or approved: August 2008.
Original article appeared in Jul/Aug 2008 print issue . Bios current as of Jul/Aug 08.
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written by Mike , November 18, 2008 There can be no discussion about when life begins. It is obvious when life begins. Pro-Choice/pro-abortion folks should just fess up and admit that they just plain don't care. They care about a murderer ondeath row; they care about a spotted owl; they care about everything but the obvious. If a fetus stands in the way of getting an education or job, it is sacrificial. To say you are pro-choice is like Pilate washing his hands and letting the Hebrews choose to kill Jesus. It is sickening and a sign of our selfish times. life is not a choice but a fact
written by Merz , November 17, 2008 human life begins at the moment of conception and never ends... i found a great website to help me explain this. this article is all one needs so please check it out. http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/when-does-life-begin-faq.htm ABORTIO
written by CRISTAL LOZANO , November 12, 2008 PRETTY GOOD ARTICLE An opinion
written by Dr. J , November 07, 2008 Abortions will always exist, my concern is to provide a safe environment for the procedure. I find it curious that people who are against abortion rights for religious reasons do not seem troubled with the extreme efforts that are often provided to keep obvious miscarriages from happening. A miscarriage is natures natural way. Going Around In Circles
written by Day Of Fame Game Guy , November 06, 2008 Two very passionate sides to the argument. I don't think anybody knows when life starts. Nobody knows when some threashold is met, and an embryo instantly is considered alive. This argument is like an argument over who's religion is right. No matter what side you are on, you can't win this argument. to Kyle
written by V. , November 06, 2008 Considering continuous process of development, life needs to be defended. Just like black were not considered humans and Jew where used for experimentation in Germany.....the same is happening to HUMAN embryos. Who speaks for them? when God is involved
written by clement charles , November 04, 2008 And He clearly is, since it His creation (image and likeness and all that). Why take a chance unless one is absolutely sure. And if you don't believe in God, then life won't be much of a problem believing in anyway, unless it's your own. That's a system issue, not an ethical issue.
written by Justin , November 03, 2008 To respond to Kyle (I guess I'm a pro-lifer) if back alley abortions are a problem with making abortion legal then that is a system issue that would need to be addressed by enforcing laws and offering services to help moms cope with the desire to get an illegal abortion. Much like drug counseling, etc. If the justification for making something legal is because people would do it anyway then drugs, speeding, etc. should be legalized also. I came to this article wondering what pro-choice advocates consider to be the start of the beginning of human rights. I was surprised that scientific entities cannot take a stand on that determination. well
written by kyle , October 27, 2008 I don't think the debate between this side and that has anything to do with the medical community or the government. I don't think the issue should be left up to lawmakers to decide. There will always be opponents and proponents on both sides of this one, and I can only see bad news on one side of this if it is banned. back alley abortion and those women dying. What do the pro-lifers have to say about that? Just some food for thought. I'm not trying to incite a riot. ...
written by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H, , September 18, 2008 I think that is the question being debated, David. abortion
written by david , September 18, 2008 is a fetus considered life or as a human being Write comment
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