Reply #123: That's the political definition of viability

[gollygee]

needing assistance to eat is a far cry from the measures used to save micro-preemies. I don't think there is any unbiased scientific definition. Some would use yours, some would say when a baby can survive outside the womb as well as a healthy baby born at 9 months. I have no idea what a fair unbiased defintion would be, if one is possible.

I think politics would naturally be involved in the formation of any panel of this nature. It would almost certainly end up being comprised of people who are opposed to abortion. How could that be avoided? Who would decide who would be on the panel? Would that person be an elected official or appointed by an elected official?

There is a type of birth defect where the fetus' head swells to several times a normal size. It is impossible for a woman to vaginally birth a fetus like this, so a c-section would be necessary. But to perform a c-section on a uterus swelled to that extent makes the uterus less stable for future pregnancies. There is potential in future pregnancies for the uterus to rupture, which can cause both maternal and fetal death.

Later term abortions are almost always for wanted fetuses. These are women who want a baby so it's likely there will be a future pregnancy.