Painful to Witness

That would be the efforts of the pro-choice movement to capitalize on the results of a dubious "study" that alleges that unborn children don't feel pain until the 27th week of gestation.

Of course, this makes no sense, given that 23 week olds can now survive outside the womb -- and all indications from these babies is that their "pain mechanisms" are fully working. (And see this Georgetown University document, noting that "pain can probably begin to be felt" in the 18-24 week period).

In addition, apparently this much-touted "study" doesn't introduce any new research; it's an "overview" and interpretation of other studies (its relationship to scientific experimentation is analogous to that of historiography to history).

One other matter of interest: Sandy Rios, former president of Concerned Women for America just appeared on Fox News, opposite Kim Gandy, President of NOW -- and stated that one of the study's authors was affiliated the Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy in San Francisco, a place that quite openly approves of and provides abortions. One of the other authors supposedly has connection to NARAL.

Certainly, this by itself doesn't invalidate any research they may have done; but it should be reported (and isn't, anywhere I could find) because it does, indeed, suggest that the research was less than disinterested, and may have been used as the handmaiden to an agenda.