http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7854109/Unborn-baby-cannot-feel-pain-before-abortion-limit-report.html Unborn baby cannot feel pain before abortion limit: report The human feotus cannot feel pain before 24 weeks, the latest research has found, destroying one of the arguments for lowering the current abortion limit. By Rebecca Smith , Medical Editor Published: 8:00AM BST 26 Jun 2010 Research from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has found that the feotus cannot experience pain before 24 weeks and is kept in an unconscious state while in the womb. The findings mean there is no scientific reason to reduce the abortion limit from the current 24 weeks, experts said. Campaigners had argued that the abortion limit for 'social reasons' should be reduced after emotive detailed scans of the feotus showed it fully formed, smiling, and making walking movements in the womb. The reports were commissioned by the government to update the latest medical research last published in 1997. It was found that connections in the brain are not fully formed until after 24 weeks meaning that the feotus is unable to feel pain and has no awareness. It means that surgery conducted in the womb before 24 weeks does not need to be carried out with painkillers and has no benefit. It was suggested that because the feotus is effectively unconscious at this gestation, painkillers and anaesthetic may be harmful. A second report also concluded that it would be unrealistic to determine a list of conditions for which it was 'acceptable' to abort beyond 24 weeks. The question had been raised in response to concerns that women were aborting babies under the clause in the Act that they may be born with a 'serious handicap' but the feotus had in reality only minor abnormalities that can be corrected such as a cleft lip. To reflect new research findings and the advances in clinical practice, both original documents have been completely rewritten. These two new reports contain information for clinicians, researchers and health care professionals and the report on Fetal Awareness includes a new chapter with practical information and advice to women and parents. Professor Allan Templeton, chairman of the Fetal Awareness Working Party said: These two reports represent an extensive review of the scientific and clinical literature, and I am grateful to the many people who contributed and in particular to the members of the two working parties. I believe we now have robust and updated guidance for health care professionals.
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