Ultrasound images don’t show that unborn babies have “human qualities” say pro-choicers

From an article entitled “Foetus scans fuel abortion debate”:

“Moving ultrasound images showing 12-week-old foetuses sucking their thumbs and appearing to “walk” do not prove they have feelings and provide no scientific evidence for lowering the age limit for abortion, experts said yesterday.”

…. 

The moving images showed that unborn babies can stretch, kick and leap around from 12 weeks, make intricate finger movements at 15 weeks and yawn at 20 weeks. They also revealed that 18-week-old foetuses can open their eyes.

The images were used by the anti-abortion lobby to argue against the 24-week limit. But yesterday three neonatal experts warned that the scans, though “fantastic”, provided no fresh scientific evidence to justify lowering the limit.”

Pro-choice activists were quick with damage control:

Huseyin Mehmet, a reader in developmental neurobiology who is pro-choice:

“I worried when I saw those images. These images do not prove that those human qualities can be attributed to a foetus of 12 weeks.”

Donald Peebles, a consultant in foetal medicine at University College London:

“The temptation is to associate foetal movements with adult movements – it’s sucking its thumb because it’s happy, it’s walking because it’s going somewhere. I think it’s that step which is extraordinarily dangerous. I don’t think in scientific terms these shed any new light whatsoever on the debate.”

Does anyone really believe what these so-called “experts” are saying- that the scans mean nothing and do not show that an unborn baby has “human qualities?” (whatever that means?) An unborn baby IS human. it is not a duck, not a fish, but a human  being in an early stage of development.

Quotes from:

Sarah Hall “Foetus scans fuel abortion debate” The Guardian Oct 2, 2006