Reply #50: Here's my personal opinion, the exact timing is still arguable

[slackmaster]

I believe a developing pre-born individual becomes a human being when its nervous system is developed to the point where it has a sense of self-awareness and an ability to feel pain. The highly developed conscious mind, more than any other single trait, distinguises us from other animals including other primates. I see nothing wrong with a woman deciding to abort a developing cluster of cells that has no sense of being and that experiences no suffering at being destroyed.

Some anti-abortion propagandists are claiming that signs of a developed nervous system appear as early as five or eight weeks. I think that is bogus, as are claims by extreme pro-choicers that an 18- or 22- week fetus can't feel pain. The truth is somewhere in the middle.

I propose as a line in the sand before which there should be no restrictions on abortion, using the following reasoning:

- Start with eight weeks to ensure that the woman has missed two whole menstrual cycles.

- Add another two weeks because conception is most likely half way between the start of one cycle and the next. (Gestation is normally 38 weeks from conception or 40 from the start of the last period.)

- Add another four weeks for her to mull it over. At this point there is no reasonable doubt that she is pregnant if she is in touch with her body.

- Add one more week to allow for discussions with loved ones, making appointments, rescheduling work, child care, etc.

That comes to 15 weeks. Hey, that's pretty close to what Roe v Wade establishes. What a coinky-dink. Maybe the present system isn't broken after all. ;-)

I think states should be able to regulate abortion after that, but any decent state law must have plenty of wiggle room for extenuating circumstances. I think profoundly deformed fetuses (e.g. anencephalic) should be abortable at any time, as should any pregnancy that endangers the life or health of the woman.

In rape or incest situations, perhaps extending the choice window to 25 weeks to allow for the emotional and legal complications that may be involved. After that, aborting a healthy fetus is IMO barbaric.

I usually get fired on by both extremes when I express this kind of balanced view.