Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 39, Number 18, July 26, 1976.

Fetus as a Potential Human?

Fetus as a Potential Human?

The definition of the embryo or fetus as a potential human or human being, or human life, is interesting if only because of the frequency with which it is used by doctors and biologists who probably would consider that they were speaking as scientists.

In the first place it is, of course, a non-definition it does not tell us what an embryo or fetus is, but only what it will become. But secondly, the world "potential" as Dr Diana Mason has already pointed out to this Commission, is not a medical or scientific term at all, but a metaphysical term. The corresponding terms in biology and medicine are growth and development, and if we speak of a growing or developing human, or human being, or human life, we have quite a different sense and we are back with reality.

However it is not name-calling which will harm the embryo or fetus. Rather, the necessity to deny medical and scientific knowledge of the fetus derives from the fact that the fate proposed for him has little or nothing to do with medicine or therapy.

Professor Sir Norman Jeffcoate, then President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, could state that in modern obstetrics not more than one pregnancy in 1,000 would justify contemplation of abortion. That would amount to about 60 pregnancies a year in New Zealand, but the Remuera Clinic or Aotea Hospital could dispose of that many in less than a fortnight.

When we care for pregnant women, when we diagnose and treat illness in unborn babies, medical and Scientific knowledge is essential. When people practice abortion, such knowledge is an emharrassment. The only thing medical about abortion is that doctors do them and must handle complications afterwards.

How severe mother's heart disease, renal complaint, diabetes or mental illness, no-one would be suggesting abortion was essential if the mother wanted the baby.

Regrettably, it is not just medicine and science which are perverted in the justification of the taking of human life in utero. Ethics, morality and legality traditionally were designed to protect others. In abortion they are invoked as a balm for the conscience of the wrongdoer.

In mathematics, science and medicine you may start with a premise of whose validity you are uncertain and expand it logically, searching for contradictions. Lack of contradiction does not prove that the original premise is valid, but at least it is some help on the way. It shows that at least the case is internally self-consistent.

However, for anyone who seeks the slenderest thread of consistency in the abortionists' case, the search will be a frustration and a disappointment.

We are told that to make a plea for the fetus is "emotional"; but every request for abortion is an emotional one, and I am unaware of any pro-abortion legislation anywhere in the world which was not introduced and supported by fiercely emotional argument.

We are told tha to attach any significance to fetal life involves a "value judgement"; but terms like "quality of life", "enjoyment of life", involve a value judgments which, like the values of the Values Party, are a great deal less charitable than a value which protects and cares for life.

We are told that the law on abortion must be interpreted "liberally" - but that the Hospitals Amendment Act must be interpreted strictly word for word - despite the obvious intentions of our legislators.

We have come a long way in fetal diagnosis and therapy in the last 25 years. We have also come a long way from the Geneva Declaration which stated: "I will preserve the utmost respect for human life from conception."

Strictly, we do not need to talk about the development of life. We need to talk about the protection of talk about the protection of life, because destruction of life is what abortion is all about.

This article and the submissions published earlier in the year from the Women's National Abortion Action Campaign (WONAAC) were paid for on a cost-of-production basis. The editor wishes to dissociate himself from specific graphics used in both cases.

Image of a fetus

THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES OF.... HAROLD HEADD WRITTEN AN DRAWN FER YEW BY... RAND HOLMES LATER SLAM ELMO?? WAS THE PLACE OPEN?? YEAH NAW! CHRIST'S TEETH! ...WHAT'S THAT!?? IT'S A PIG MAN! SEE... ONE OF THE BIG SPORES HAD THIS NATIVITY SCENE STILL O SET UP FROM XMAS ...AN LIKE IT HAD LIVE ANI-MULES ...SO I LIBERATED THIS-ERE PIG YEAH... WELL I CAN SEE IT'S A PIG... BUT WODDA YA GONNA NO WITH IT? I'M GONNA "OFF" THE SUNUVABITCH WITH YER 303 AN HAVE ME A MESS OF HOG JOWLS AN CHITLINS!! ...THASS WHAT I'M GONNA DO KLIK SZNURKK HONK CHOMF MUNCH CHEW SPLINTER NO! NO!... FER FUCKSAKE ELMO!... ONE SHOT OUTA THAT AN WE'LL BE UP TO OUR EARS IN "REAL PIGS"! GRUNK CHAWF SLUSP KA-CHUNK ON.... ...I'LL USE MY BELT KNIFE (MESSY.. BUT EFFICIENT!) HERE PIGGY PIGGY.. OMERE YOU LITTLE SWINE! IT'S NO USE HAROLD... I CAN'T DO IT!... HE KEEPS BLINKING THOSE BABY BLUE PIGGY EYES AT ME! SAUFFLE SQUEEEEE CHOFF MAGE CHOMP WELL JEEZUZ ELMO!... DO SOMETHIN!... THE LITTLE BASTARD JUST ATE MY NEW ROD STEWART ALBUM!! SHIT!... NOW HE'S STARTING ON MY MOTORCYCLE SEAT! TO BE CONTINUED

Photo of a woman wearing a dress and shawl with tassles