When does a fetus become a human?

Question

When should a woman no longer be allowed to abort?

When should a murderer of a pregnant woman be charged with double-homicide?

Answer 1

It's always human. That is not the issue. The issue is whether a human life at a stage of being a tiny featureless blob of cells should be protected at the expense of the wishes of the parents - and particularly the woman who would have to give birth to it. I don't think it should.

I also cannot accept that it's right to kill a foetus when it's fully developed and due to be born. Logically then, there has to be a point somewhere in between that I decide, on the basis of conscience, is the point at which abortion becomes unacceptable. I don't know enough about it to have a definite view where that point lies, but it must lie somewhere in the 9 months of pregnancy.

Answer 2

Alright mate, techically all of the above are right, BUT you also have to look at the situation on abortion, when a girl is just a slutty whore just trying to get some, gets knocked up and then aborts...that is WRONG, now if a girl gets raped, or a family member does something, or if her life is in danger for it, then by all means, she can abort. I also think it is wrong that the mother-to-be has the ultimate decision for it...like lets say that a man and a woman make love (non-rape or smut...like a man and wife thing) and the man doesn't want it, the woman can still have it...now lets say the same situation except the MAN wants the baby but the girl doesn't, well guess what happens, the baby will get aborted because the woman has the say so, now tell me THAT's not wrong...anyways, I beileve that a fetus is a developing baby and that it is still a living creature, it has the same amount of chromosomes as a normal human being, so it is considered a Homo Sapien...whether or not it is a human being or not, I'm not concerned about...it's just the fact that since it's alive, someone who kills a woman and her baby-to-be should still be charged with double-homicide not because the fetus is human per-se, but because the fetus was alive and was a living creature....

Answer 3

It's always human (then again, so is a severed hand). The question is when is it a human BEING (that is, an individual).

I think the point where abortion is no longer okay is when the fetus is viable--that is, when it's at the point where if it was born that day, it would survive. Even though it is quite arguably before this point that a fetus gains the ability to suffer and have consciousness...if it's still not an individual, then it IS still every right of the woman to decide what happens to it (to suggest that HER rights should be superceded is patently absurd). Of course, it's not always the same, so you can't really pinpoint a time (but definitely not earlier than the third trimester).

At the same time, it's kind of a moot point, because it is EXTREMELY rare for an abortion to occur that late in a pregnancy, and the few abortions that do happen during that time are done more often because there is a serious health risk to the woman than for any other reason.

Answer 4

It isn't legally a human until the third trimester. In fact, even people who claim it is human then are incorrect. Humans have brains that are more fully developed than any other species on Earth. Until this development has occurred, a fetus is a developing human, not a human. Scientific distinctions can be important, since if it is capable of surviving outside the womb it would no longer be considered a developing human, but a developed human, or simply human.

Typically, a woman cannot have an abortion after the second trimester, but there are cases where even during the second trimester abortion is prohibited.

Regardless of how people feel, abortion is not murder in any legal way. Abortions are legal, and murder is by definition not legal. Though many feel it fits the moral definition of murder, it doesn't matter. Morality is subjective, and what is right to one person may be completely wrong to another. Abortion issues are compounded when religion is brought into the equation, since many people believe that their religion should be followed by everyone. "Murder is wrong." That may be true, but abortion isn't murder. We must be careful that no laws are established based on religious followings, or we will have truly lost our way as Americans.

EDIT:
Sir Offenzalot - I have read many of your answers, and trying to convince you of what logic actually is seems pointless. To you, it appears that logic consists of whatever you decide it is on any given day. I don't allow people to email me because of those like you - people who think logic is found in a book written almost two thousand years ago.

Answer 5

A fetus is human as soon as the egg and sperm join. As to when that fetus becomes a person is a different question. It all depends on how one views life. Some might argue that a spirit enters a body at the time of birth. Some actually believe that different spirits can inhabit a body at various times during their life.

Some believe that the body is a mere shell, and that the soul or spirit is the actual entity. If this is the case, then abortion does not kill a spirit, but only the shell. I would think that from this viewpoint that atheists would have a greater objection to abortion than Christians. Somehow though, it seems that Christians place greater value on the body than the spirit.

Answer 6

When brain activity begins.
Legally a human being who is brain dead is disconnected from life support. So a fetus that hasn't developed brain function yet is just a collection of cells.

Anything else is a religious issue. America is supposed to have religious freedom but apparently there's quite a few fanatics out there who wish to make this a christian theocracy. I know this may be shocking to some but there are religions out there in which abortion is not considered the ending of life. Think carefully about taking away other people's religious rights, as the day may come when your religion is no longer the dominate one in your country and then you'll be the one hunted and persecuted for your beliefs.

Answer 7

When you hear the heartbeat & see the brain waves. Anyone with a heart & brain is a live human. Also, I believe life starts at conception.


It is much easier to murder a fetus than to eat right & take care of self so the baby is born healthy. Sooo many things can attack a pregnancy, abortion being one of those things. But also it is a lot of responsiblity to care for a baby & for that baby to be healthy also. So, some would rather destroy Gods creation than be responsible for caring for a baby.

Legally a murder of a pregnant woman is ruled a double homicide in court. As was the case in the OT verse written in another answer. If mischief follow (death of mother or child) then the penalty is life for life.

Answer 8

It should always be a double homicide; after all, it's the end of two lives that, if left on their own, would continue.
Now, abortion is a touchy issue. I'd say, personally, never. If they didn't want the baby, just don't have sex or at least use a condom.
As for if it's human, as soon as the egg begins to form cells of it's own, whammo, human life. At least, that's my opinion.

Answer 9

When is a child considered an adult? When does one become a senior? A human being from the day of conception, just a different stage of development. Get over making such a fuss about it.

Seattlefan,
You realize your reasoning is not very "logical" and can be torn to shreds quite easily? You can email if you wish.

Answer 10

A fetus by definition of science as well as the Bible IS always human life. Its just in an earlier stage of development.

When does disposing of human life become acceptable? 1 month? 2? 9 months? 2 years? 90 years? 100?

Human life isnt disposable, its precious and the murdering of unborn life should have never been permitted. Only human arrogance and pride dare has the audacity to declare that one segment of the population is the property of another. WE did it in our history with black slavery in brown VS board of education and we're doing it all over again with roe VS wade.