For the past week, I have been gathering data to support my belief that banning all abortions after 20 weeks gestational age, as proposed in HB1948, is way too extreme and has no scientific basis. I spent a large portion of my weekend reading clinical reports published by JAMA and the American Academy of Pediatrics with regard to fetal pain and fetal viability. I’m still trying to compose a more comprehensive breakdown of the false logic behind the bill, but since the House is convening in Harrisburg today, I thought I would write an email to Representative Tom Quigley who not only represents the district I live in, but is also a co-sponsor of the bill. Below is what I emailed and faxed to him, but I have a feeling this won’t be my last letter or blog post on this bill.
Dear Representative Quigley:
As a registered voter and taxpaying resident of the 146th legislative district, I ask that before hastily trying to pass HB 1948 which would criminalize abortion after 20 weeks gestational age (instead of the current 24 weeks) that you kindly produce expert testimony and/or compelling scientific evidence which would support your contentions that 1) infants at 20 weeks gestational age are capable of feeling pain and 2) infants at 20 weeks gestational age are able to live long enough to be discharged from specialized neonatal hospital care.
From the clinical reports that I have read, it seems that there is currently still no definitive evidence that an infant is capable of feeling pain until approximately 29 to 30 weeks gestational age because before that time, the parts of the brain that are responsible for pain perception are not fully formed and/or not functioning properly yet.
According to the 2005 report published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) entitled Fetal Pain: A Systematic Multidisciplinary Review of the Evidence:
“Fetal awareness of noxious stimuli requires functional thalamocortical connections. Thalamocortical fibers begin appearing between 23 to 30 weeks’ gestational age, while electroencephalography suggests the capacity for functional pain perception in preterm neonates probably does not exist before 29 or 30 weeks.”
Further, an infant born at 20 weeks gestational age has a very slim chance of survival.
As stated in the 2015 report entitled Antenatal Counseling Regarding Resuscitation and Intensive Care Before 25 Weeks of Gestation published by the American Academy of Pediatrics:
“Most countries, including the United States, continue to report that survival without significant neurologic sequelae is extremely rare in infants delivered before 23 weeks of gestation, even with full resuscitation and intensive care.”
Assuming that an infant at 20 weeks gestational age defies the odds and survives, the child will likely be extremely mentally and/or physically impaired.
The above-mentioned 2015 American Academy of Pediatrics report also states that:
“Infants born at 22 weeks’ gestation have reported rates of moderate to severe neurodevelopmental impairment of 85% to 90%; for infants born at 23 weeks’ gestation, these rates are not significantly lower.”
Aside from having an opportunity to review any substantial evidence that would support the need to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks (instead of the current 24 weeks), I would also be highly interested in your explanation as to why legislation that would impact the lives of so many Pennsylvanian women is being rushed through the General Assembly without public hearings? I struggle to understand the urgency of passing this legislation so quickly, particularly since 99% of abortions in Pennsylvania are performed well before 20 weeks gestational age.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health Abortion Reports for 2013 and 2014, only 1% of abortions are performed at 21-23 weeks gestational age.
PA Dept of Health Statistics ABORTION REPORTS 2013-2014
YEAR |
# abortions at 21-23 weeks |
# Abortions |
2013 |
331 |
32,108 |
2014 |
328 |
32,126 |
|
|
|
If only 1% of abortions are performed after 20 weeks, it hardly seems like HB 1948 is urgent enough to warrant depriving Pennsylvanians of the chance to participate in the democratic process through discussions with their legislators who are supposed to represent their best interests.
Thank you and I look forward to your reply.