Washington D.C., Mar 16, 2016 / 15:27 pm
As the Senate considers a bill protecting unborn human life past 20 weeks of pregnancy, medical experts insist these children do feel pain and must be protected by law.
"We are obligated to protect the undefensible," stated Dr. Colleen A. Malloy, who teaches in the Neonatology division at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Dr. Malloy said that advances in technology show the "viability" of human life at an earlier age than previously believed.
The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would prohibit abortions performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy except in cases of rape (the victim must seek counseling or medical treatment), incest, or when the life of the mother is at stake.
It passed the U.S. House of Representatives last May in a historic vote for the pro-life movement, but the bill failed to advance in the Senate, receiving a majority of votes but not the three-fifths required. The Obama administration had already announced its plans to veto the bill if it passed the Senate.