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From: matt@brl-tgr.ARPA (Matthew Rosenblatt )
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: Re: Demarcation of life
Message-ID: <1471@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 13-Sep-85 09:31:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.1471
Posted: Fri Sep 13 09:31:53 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Sep-85 05:48:55 EDT
References: <306@gcc-bill.ARPA> <2378@ut-ngp.UTEXAS>
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 46

> >				  The natural result of conception
> >is a baby.  Even though it is just a clump of cells for a while, with
> >no recognizable human form, it will develop into a baby if left to its
> >natural course.  [BRIAN WELLS]
> 
> Oh, really?  You (and other anti-choice people) have hit a new low
> in misrepresentation with the statement that:
> 
>     it [the fetus] will develop into a baby if left to its natural course.
> 
> Pregnancy involves the _continuous_ transfer of material between
> the bodies of the fetus and its mother.  Thus it is precisely _not_
> "leaving" the fetus to anything.  If the placenta fails to transfer
> the proper materials between the two bodies, the fetus will die.
> If the mother's body cannot supply the proper materials in the
> requisite quantities to the fetus, it will die.  [KEN MONTGOMERY]

It is obvious that the disagreement here results from two different
meanings of the word "natural" being used.  To me, and probably to
Mr. Wells, this transfer of materials between the pregnant woman's
body and the fetus's body is eminently natural.  True, 20% of pregnancies
end in spontaneous abortion ("miscarriage"), so the process is not 100%
foolproof.  But in the other 80%, the process of gestation and birth
will result in a live birth.

>						 The choice that a
> pregnant woman faces is to aid the fetus or to remove it from her
> body.  There is nothing whatsoever of _leaving_ it to "its natural
> course" involved in this decision, because its "natural course"
> _requires the overt aid of her body_.  [KEN MONTGOMERY]

What does "overt aid" mean?  Getting someone to abort her is an overt
act, and results in removing the fetus from her body.  If she performs
no overt act, there is an 80% chance she will have a live birth.  Mr.
Montgomery would make his argument more clearly if he would give us
his definitions of "natural" and "overt."

-------------------

Does it really matter whether a zygote splits to become identical twins
or not?  When the split does occur, it happens so early that "banning
abortion from the time of conception" and "banning abortion from the
latest possible time of splitting into multiple individuals" would be
indistinguishable in any practical sense.

					-- Matt Rosenblatt


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