Wednesday 7 May 2008

20 rubbish reasons for 20 weeks - Daily Mail Bollocks


The Daily Mail, that great bastion of 'truthful' reporting reached a new low yesterday with their article on Tory, Nadine Dorries MP's campaign to change the abortion limit from 24 to 20 weeks. I've already gone in to why there is absolutely no need or indeed scientific proof for this suggestion, but the fact that this plan is taken as credible by the paper really got my knickers in a twist.
Apparently, Britain is becoming the abortion capital of the world. Fair enough. If the statistics saying there was 193,700 abortions is true then nobody can deny that this is shocking. However, why do these people suddenly think the problem will go away by cutting the time limit? Attacking the limit just puts the people who are the most desperate at a severe disadvantage. Lets remember that only 2% of all abortions take place after 20 weeks and the majority of these women are suffering from severe hardships and situations. If you want to cut down the number of abortions then surely the answer is education. Nobody can argue that women like having abortions. Better sex and relationships education, more conversation in PSE and more support is the answer to stop unwanted pregnancies.
But instead of the logical answer, the ex-nurse and her pro-life cronies have come up with 20 ridiculous reasons for 20 weeks. You've got to admit that it's catchy but that doesn't make them credible. So here they are:


TWENTY REASONS FOR TWENTY WEEKS
Why the campaigners led by Tory MP Nadine Dorries say the abortion limit should be cut:
1. Two thirds of GPs and two thirds of public - including three quarters of women - support reduction in upper age limit, say polls

Ok, well this is different to Abortion Rights statistics but how do you judge these things? Nobody has ever asked me to be involved in a poll.


2. More babies surviving well below 24 weeks, including world’s most premature baby Amillia Taylor, born at 21 weeks in 2006

There is no overwhelming evidence to support this argument. There has been no significant improvement in foetal survival before 24 weeks.


3. High-resolution 3D ultrasound images showing babies ‘walking’, yawning, stretching and sucking thumbs in the womb
These images are highly emotive. These pictures are not 'babies' and could not survive outside the womb. They are foetuses and they are not 'walking' or 'sucking their thumb', they are moving. This is claptrap.


4. Two thirds of babies born at 23 weeks survive in top neonatal units
Surely this is still reason 2? Again no evidence.


5. Foetuses can feel pain as low as 18 weeks, research suggests

Whose research? I can do research but I'm no Doctor. The British Medical Association and The Royal Obstetricians and Gynaecologists defend the limit and surely they would think again if foetuses could feel pain.


6. Mothers first feel their babies kick at 19 weeks in a first pregnancy and at 17 weeks in a later pregnancy

Kicking is primitive movement. Not communication. This isn't a reason, next!


7. More babies being born alive after botched abortions - some as young as 16 weeks

Where is your evidence? I will repeat again, there is no evidence to say that babies are surviving better before 24 weeks. To say that these babies are born perfectly fine is rubbish. Most suffer severe brain damage and die before there first birthday.


8. Rising number of abortions being carried out between 20 and 24 weeks

How is this a reason against? Yeah maybe it is rising, but it still is a tiny proportion of overall abortions and the women who have an abortion are often in dire need. Are you suggesting that a women raped, suffering from severe trauma should be forced to have her child? These groups (or papers, like the Daily Mail) bemoan teenage mothers but by cutting the limit, they are increasing the number.


9. Leading public figures such as Tory leader David Cameron calling for a cut to at least 20 weeks

How is this a reason? Have I missed something? Is David Cameron somekind of demi-God that we should start praying to because he has all the answers? This is the most ridiculous reason yet.


10. Britain’s abortion laws among the most liberal in Europe: The 24-week limit is double that in France or Germany, and six weeks later than in Sweden or Norway

So we should all follow are friends in Europe? Is that in-line with Conservative policy now? Watch it, we will have the euro next! What would Maggie say, eh?


11.’Abhorrent’ methods used to abort a post 20-week baby, including a lethal injection to the heart, and dismembering the body and removing it from the womb limb by limb

Argh. It is not a baby. It is a foetus. And yes, abortions aren't nice but it is the living woman that should have priority. Foetuses at this age cannot feel pain and it is a group of cells.

12. A possible link with mental illness for late abortions, say psychiatrists

What for? The woman or psychiatrists? Hang on, what do you think would cause more mental illness: a late abortion or being forced to have a baby against your will? Women who have terminations after 20 weeks take the decision very seriously and often could not go through with it before.

13. Most late abortions take place in private clinics, charged to the NHS - meaning there are financial vested interests involved

This is crap. Yes some people make money from healthcare but there should be better provision for women on the NHS. A significant number of GPs actually obstruct women from having terminations or are lost in the system. Private clinics may not be ideal but they give women a way out.

14. Babies can now undergo surgery in the womb under 24 weeks, such as Samuel Armas who had surgery at 21 weeks for spina bifida

Why is this a reason? It still wouldn't survive if you took the foetus out the womb at that age.

15. Few UK graduates willing to perform abortions beyond 16 weeks and most who do so are from overseas

Oh here we go. You can almost here the Daily Mail singing 'Send the buggers back!'.

16. Guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, supporting 24 weeks, should be updated in line with latest evidence on neonatal survival

There you are folks. Leading medical UK bodies are out of date, apparently.

17. 1,000 doctors signed petition against the British Medical Association’s support for 24 weeks and the Royal College of Nursing has not consulted its members

How many Doctors are there in the UK? A bit more than a 1,000. Plus how many of these Doctors are women who would actually be affected by this limit.

18. Pregnancy testing kits are freely available at chemists, so there is little excuse for not diagnosing pregnancy before 24 weeks.
Some, often young women do not experience the typical signs of pregnancy such as regular periods stopping. Other women, like those nearing the menopause do not expect to get pregnant. Better education at school-level about women's bodies would make a difference. Also, pregnancy tests are expensive and embarrassing. A lot of young people are in denial about their sexual experiences and leave it too late.

19. The Commons science and technology committee was heavily influenced by pro-abortion witnesses
So the evidence you got is not heavily-influenced by pro-life and religious groups? And what eveidence do you have?
20. Picture of a 20-week foetus (Above)
Reason 3 repeated. Emotive picture of foetuses are not photos of babies that would be able to survive outside the womb.