Late-Term Abortion

The idea that unborn and newborn babies cannot feel pain is obsolete, refuted by an extensive and growing body of scientific evidence. The myth that unborn babies cannot feel pain comes from a bygone era when newborns were strapped down for surgery without pain relief.

Dr. Stuart Derbyshire is one of the world’s leading neuroscientists whose 2010 work which was cited in the abortion industry’s Dobbs response brief. For many years he was considered a “leading voice against the likelihood of fetal pain.” and he was on record rejecting the possibility of fetal pain prior to 24 weeks.

However in 2020, in response to a growing body of scientific evidence, Dr. Derbyshire changed his long-held position and published a peer-reviewed paper in BMJ’s Journal of Medical Ethics concluding that the cortex is not necessary for pain perception, and that “the evidence, and a balanced reading of that evidence, points toward an immediate and unreflective pain experience mediated by the developing function of the nervous system from as early as 12 weeks.”

The published scientific literature shows that unborn babies can experience pain at least by 15 weeks’ gestational age (15 weeks LMP, since Last Menstrual Period, the fetal age estimate used by most obstetricians), or even earlier.

A comprehensive review of the scientific literature points out that babies in the womb may not experience pain the same way as adults, but they do indeed experience pain as a real sensation, and their pain experience has moral implications. This review of the scientific evidence and agreement on existence of fetal pain, as early as 12 weeks and certainly by 18 weeks, comes from two highly credentialed medical professionals, one of whom identifies as pro-choice.

Fetal surgeons recognize unborn babies as patients. The growth in maternal-fetal medicine recognizes this acceptance. Since the first fetal surgery was performed in 1981 in the United States, the number of centers devoted to fetal surgeries has grown – as of 2022, there are 37 medical centers in the United States that perform advanced in-utero fetal therapeutic procedures.

Science shows that an unborn baby can react to harmful or painful sensations in the womb. As early as 8 weeks, the baby makes reflexive movements when touched or stimulated. When exposed to pain, the baby’s stress hormones rise significantly, but this stress response decreases or disappears when the baby is provided anesthesia during painful, invasive procedures. Being subjected to pain in the womb also can have long‑term harmful effects on the baby’s brain and development.

Dr. Robin Pierucci, M.D., a board-certified neonatologist, medical director of a 50-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and associate scholar at Charlotte Lozier Institute, explains:

“The idea that unborn babies don’t feel pain is rooted in a bygone era when newborns were actually operated on without anesthesia or pain relief.  While abortion advocates continue to cling to that outdated belief, neither science nor humanity have stood still.

“The current standard of medical care calls for unborn babies to receive pain medication during fetal surgery starting at 15 weeks.  In fact, modern 3D and 4D ultrasound enables us to see an unborn baby cry and grimace when receiving that injection of pain medication in utero.  Their behavior is just like other kids when they get a shot at the pediatrician’s office.”