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25/06/2010
Foetus 'Can't Feel Pain Before 24 Weeks'
A study has found that human foetuses do not feel pain before 24 weeks.
The report by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) showed that the foetus, while in the chemical environment of the womb, is in a state of induced sleep and unconscious.
This could mean that late abortions may not result in foetal suffering.
A second report published by the RCOG looked into what mental and physical abnormalities could result in a "serious handicap".
Around 1% of abortions are carried out on these grounds. Such terminations can take place after 24 weeks.
However, the RCOB said in its second report that it would not be practical to try to produce a list of conditions that would constitute serious handicap because it was too difficult to predict the long-term impact of an abnormality on a child or on their family.
Anti abortion campaigners are like to challenge the reports.
Josephine Quintavalle, from Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: "Performing abortion humanely does not justify the fact that you are terminating a human life."
(CD/GK)
The report by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) showed that the foetus, while in the chemical environment of the womb, is in a state of induced sleep and unconscious.
This could mean that late abortions may not result in foetal suffering.
A second report published by the RCOG looked into what mental and physical abnormalities could result in a "serious handicap".
Around 1% of abortions are carried out on these grounds. Such terminations can take place after 24 weeks.
However, the RCOB said in its second report that it would not be practical to try to produce a list of conditions that would constitute serious handicap because it was too difficult to predict the long-term impact of an abnormality on a child or on their family.
Anti abortion campaigners are like to challenge the reports.
Josephine Quintavalle, from Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: "Performing abortion humanely does not justify the fact that you are terminating a human life."
(CD/GK)
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One in ten UK citizens opt to live broad
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One in ten UK citizens opt to live broad
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Learndirect criticised in NAO report
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