How late should we be able to terminate?

[Skeptic Ginger]

If I were to give my opinion on a cut-off point, it would be after 12 weeks (with the caveat that most abortions should be performed before that time) but prior to 24 weeks, and with exceptions for gross abnormalities. I don't think it's a question that can have an absolutely strict answer unless one's opinion is that it is always wrong.

For example, I have a couple of friends who have been trying for a child for many years, and the woman is now pregnant after IVF. Tests have shown that the foetus has a chromosomal abnormality, and they are almost at 12 weeks and are finding their decision to be an almost impossible one to take and not one which they feel they can rush.

12 weeks isn't all that reasonable.

A pregnant woman with serious genetic risks could need a genetic test that is riskier if you do it too soon and you don't get results back by 12 weeks if you wait.

 

[uk_dave]

Dear bigred,

Why are post-birth timeframes silly? If you're down with infanticide, why wouldn't doing so, "a little late," be a problem for you? Squeamish at the sight of blood?

Cpl Ferro

Why should there be any blood? I thought lethal injection or electrocution was the preferred method in the US.

 

[Dancing David]

Dear bigred,

Why are post-birth timeframes silly? If you're down with infanticide, why wouldn't doing so, "a little late," be a problem for you? Squeamish at the sight of blood?

Cpl Ferro

Why call a fetus that can't survive on its own an infant?

"Its not a choice, its a cancer!"

ETA: And then lets it get starved, poisoned and abused once it is born?

 

[bluesjnr]

Certainly before it turns around and utters

"I vant your bootz, your cloze ant your motorzykle"

 

[Andrew Wiggin]

Up until it stops being a parasite and gets out. 18 years, so say any time before the 72nd trimester?

 

[CplFerro]

Sorry, I made the mistake of thinking this was a legit attempt at discussing the topic. My bad. Probably should be moved to the "Community" area though.

Dear bigred,

I guess being serious isn't enough for you to count a thread as being "legit." I remain curious as to why you are against post-birth infanticide.

Yours,

Cpl Ferro

 

[Mycroft]

Sorry, I made the mistake of thinking this was a legit attempt at discussing the topic. My bad. Probably should be moved to the "Community" area though.

I think many people on the anti-abortion side of the argument legitimately believe abortion is the same as infanticide and that to them this is a valid point.

I personally think it's a valid point to those people who believe abortion is acceptable at any point in a woman's pregnancy, I don't see a moral difference between killing a baby a few days after it's born and killing a baby a few days before it's due. More reasonable discussions focus on the period of time between 20-24 weeks.

 

[MattusMaximus]

I like what Dr. Gregory House had to say on the matter of abortion:

The probable exceptions to rules is the line drawn. Might makes sense for us to kill the ass that did this to you. But where do we draw the line? Which asses do we get to kill? Which asses get to keep on being asses? Nice thing about the abortion debate is we can quibble over trimesters, but ultimately there's an ice-cold line - birth. Morally, there isn't a lot of difference. Practically, huge.

 

[mrgrouch]

as soon as you sober up whenever that may be

 

[yomero]

48 weeks of gestation would be a clear indication for terminating the pregnancy. After 42 weeks there is a larger incidence of perinatal mortality.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postterm_pregnancy

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/261369-overview


I understand the last options in the poll were intended to be facetious. Taken at face value, they can be interpreted in unintended ways.

 

[JJM 777]

I understand the last options in the poll were intended to be facetious. Taken at face value, they can be interpreted in unintended ways.

They are the Spartan option. If entire human communities have done that, why do you find it incredible that some modern humans would share the same opinion?

The actual point is probably severe genetic disorders: some of them can be detected prenatally, and parents do take abortions when they hear about it. The Spartan option allows parents to terminate the child if severe disorders are detected after birth.

 

[BTMO]

My eldest son is 25 and taller than me - but he still looks over his shoulder when I am around...

 

[CplFerro]

48 weeks of gestation would be a clear indication for terminating the pregnancy. After 42 weeks there is a larger incidence of perinatal mortality.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postterm_pregnancy

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/261369-overview


I understand the last options in the poll were intended to be facetious. Taken at face value, they can be interpreted in unintended ways.

Dear yomero,

You understand wrong. Whilst the very last option is intended to also be humourous, the options given are are given in seriousness.

Yours,

Cpl Ferro

 

[fuelair]

How about, "until it's actually born, whenever that might be"?

That's mine too.

 

[Emet]

Dear yomero,

You understand wrong. Whilst the very last option is intended to also be humourous, the options given are are given in seriousness.

Yours,

Cpl Ferro

Well, IMO, you should have stated the intent of your thread in the OP. I personally didn't take those options seriously.
Considering the responses, I don't think I'm alone in that regard.

Just sayin'.

Respectfully,

Emet

 

[Caustic Logic]

I thought it might be clever to say "14 years of age," but I see several post-birth options in the poll. What I don't see is a "never" option. Not that I'd click it, but some might want to.

I don't know which one to click. I'll leave that to the experts. It's an interesting debate.

 

[The Nimble Pianist]

CplFerro: Why isn't there an option for a more nuanced approach?

 

[CplFerro]

CplFerro: Why isn't there an option for a more nuanced approach?

Dear TNP,

Oi vey. Would you care to redo the quiz in an expanded form?

Yours,

Cpl Ferro