Shady education of Planned Parenthood personel?

Question

"We know that the embryo or fetus cannot feel pain before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Nearly all — 99 percent — of abortions are done before 20 weeks. It is even possible that a fetus is unable to perceive pain at any time during pregnancy. If, however, the ability to feel pain does develop before birth and consciousness, it is likely to happen only after the 28th week of pregnancy, when abortion is performed only for rare, unusual medical situations."

(Taken directly from the Planned Parenthood site:
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/birth-control-pregnancy/abortion/risks-and-side-effects.htm)

Sounds kind of sketchy to me, doesn't it? The baby possibly not feeling pain, even up to the 40th week? Read the scientific facts here (or anywhere, for that matter):

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

Tell me what you think!

Answer 1

Planned Parenthood is being deliberately vague at best with their definition because they happen to be the largest providers of abortion in America. 20% of all abortions are performed by PP and they make millions of dollars doing it every year. Of course they will skew science to fit their agenda and justify their business.

A baby has all its major organs by the 12th week of gestation, that includes the central nervous system. Although still "developing" throughout pregnancy, we can NOT assume that the fetus feels no pain. To be humane, we should err on the side of caution and not take any chances.

It's sad that the nurse, Jill, is defending an organization which kills babies. Her job as a nurse is to protect and save lives!

Answer 2

There is no universally accepted consensus in the medical world on exactly when a fetus is able to feel pain. Although it is widely believed that the neuroreceptors that detect pain sensations are not developed until well into the second trimester. Even then it is difficult to prove.

Just because a fetus is physically formed with all organs, etc. early on (by week 12), that doesn't mean all those systems are mature and fully functional - one evidence of this is fetal lung maturity. It has lungs at 12 weeks, but they don't function properly until very close to birth. So there is no reason to assume that since the baby has a brain and nervous system formed that those nerves are working properly to their fullest capacity.

I don't think Planned Parenthood is wrong - they are deliberately vague and do not commit to saying "at week ** a fetus can feel pain". Any physician or organization who makes that kind of specific claim would be considered shady to me. I think PP said it about as well as they could.

**to Vertias: I'm sorry that you took the liberty to interpret my statement as "defending" Planned Parenthood, when I believe I said the same thing you did - there is no way to tell when a fetus feels pain, so PP's statement was vague. I'm also sorry that you are one of those people who cannot accept that Planned Parenthood has also helped women prevent far more unwanted pregnancy by providing low-cost birth control options than abortions they have performed.

Yep - I am a nurse. It is my job to advocate for my patients. My RN license does not come with a license to be morally superior to my clients, and to preach to them about my personal opinions regarding abortion. Which is what makes me a good nurse.
It is my job to provide accurate, objective information, including risks and benefits of their choices, and it is up to them to decide which option to choose.

I detest abortion, and I would never choose to have one. But what another person chooses is beyond my control, and it frightens me even more to think about what a woman might do if that option to abort were not available to her legally. Do I think too many abortions are performed for birth control purposes? Absolutely. Do I agree with it? Absolutely not.

I am a labor nurse. So obviously I am not even dealing with women who are choosing abortion. And thank God you're not either.

Answer 3

I'm no doctor but I don't see how a baby at any age past the stage of embryo could not feel pain. They have organs and such so why wouldn't they be able to feel it if someone swooped them out of the womb?

Answer 4

how do they "know?" had they experienced violence at 20 weeks and remember no pain?
"now, this little person at twelve weeks is a fully formed, absolutely, identifiable human being. He has had brain waves for at least six weeks. His heart has been functioning for perhaps eight weeks. And all the rest of his human functions are indistinguishable from any of ours."


refer to the link below. it is at 11 weeks

Answer 5

yes... planned parenthood is completely confidential and gives out NO information to people. The birth control is free and they will give her 3 months of birth control pills.

Answer 6

that is sketchy, my thing is once their nerves start to develop they can feel pain for sure!! They cant write that stuff with a "guarantee" becuase no one knows what a fetus is thinking or feeling.