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DID YOU KNOW AN UNBORN CHILD
HAS LESS LEGAL PROTECTION
FROM FEELING PAIN
THAN COMMERCIAL LIVESTOCK?

In a slaughterhouse, a method of slaughter is deemed legally humane only if “all animals are rendered insensible to pain by a single blow or gunshot or an electrical, chemical, or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut.” (Section 2 of the Humane Slaughter Act, 7 USC 1902).

By contrast, D&E abortions, performed as late as 24 weeks (well after the child begins to feel pain), involve the dismemberment of the unborn child by a pair of sharp metal forceps.(1) Instillation methods of abortion (performed even in the third trimester) involve the replacement of up to one cup of amniotic fluid with a concentrated salt solution, which the unborn child inhales as the salt burns her skin.

The child lives in this condition for up to an hour. In neither of these techniques is the unborn child provided with any form of anesthesia.(2-5)

1. Hern, W. Abortion Practice. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1984. 2. Kerenyi, T. “Intraamniotic techniques.” Abortion and Sterilization. ed. Hodgson, 1981. 3. Galen, RS and Chauhan, P et al. “Fetal pathology and mechanism of fetal death ...” AmJ Obst Gyn 120 (1974). 4. Lyon, J. “Abortion Paradox: A Live Baby.” York Daily Record. 21 Aug 1982. 5. Corson, S, et al. Fertility Control, 1985.

ASSISTED SUICIDE STUDY SHOWS THAT
OREGON PATIENTS RECEIVE
LETHAL PRESCRIPTIONS
EVEN IF NOT SUFFERING!!!!
 

An important study of family members of 83 Oregon patients who requested assisted suicide (PAD) shows that people who are being prescribed assisted suicide may not be experiencing significant symptoms of their disease.

A recent study by Linda Ganzini et al, published by the Journal of General Internal Medicine (J Gen Intern Med. 2008 Feb; 23(2):154-7) surveyed family members of Oregon patients who made explicit requests and asked them why their loved ones requested Physician Assisted Suicide. http://www.pallimed.org/2008/02/reasons-for-pas-prognosis-in-tbi-more.html

The study stated that:

"Family members reported that the most important reasons for PAD requests were: wanting control of the circumstances of death; loss of dignity; wanting to die at home and concerns about loss of independence, quality of life, ability to care for self in the future... No physical symptoms experienced at the time of the request were rated higher than 2 on the 1 - 5 scale. In most cases, future concerns about physical symptoms were rated as more important than physical symptoms present at the time of the request."

Ganzini et al conclude their study by stating:

"Our data suggests that when talking with a patient requesting PAD, clinicians should focus on eliciting and addressing worries and apprehensions about the future with the goal of reducing anxiety about the dying process. Some Oregon clinicians have expressed surprise at the paucity of suffering at the time of the request among these patients. Addressing patients’ concerns with concrete interventions that help maintain control, independence and self care, all in the home environment, may be an effective way to address requests for PAD and improve quality of remaining life."

It is interesting to note that as of 2005, Compassion and Choices the assisted suicide political activist group who are centered in Oregon facilitated 73% of all assisted suicide deaths in Oregon. Can it be that assisted suicide prescriptions in Oregon are more likely received when Compassion and Choices refers the person to a member physician, rather than based on the provisions in the law?

Once again the answer to the problem is not providing lethal prescriptions to people who are naturally concerned about their end-of-life care, but rather provide the necessary physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual and social care for the person.

This study also confirms that the social abandonment of people who are dying leads to a feeling of hopelessness that is best dealt with by support and social inclusion rather than lethal drugs.

Contact: Alex Schadenberg, chairperson

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition - International

Phone: 1-877-439-3348,

Email: euthanasiaprevention@on.aibn.com

Matters of
LIFE and DEATH
 

'Miracle' baby arrives after abortion recommended

Review ordered after unborn incorrectly diagnosed as blind, deaf

An urgent review has been ordered into hospital procedures after an unborn baby
diagnosed with rhomboencephalosynapsis, a rare and serious brain disease, was born without handicap to parents who now call him their "miracle."

The case developed in the Fetal Medicine Unit at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where doctors first thought the baby known as Brandon Kramer, and who now is teething and trying to talk, had Down's Syndrome, according to a new report in the Daily Mail in the United Kingdom.

They later diagnosed the more rare brain condition after they determined he suffered from a swollen head and hydrocephalus while in the womb. They said tests showed his condition worsening, and they recommended to the parents that he be aborted.

The newspaper cited medical notes written by pediatric neurologist Dr. Cathy White shortly before Brandon's birth:

"Rhomboencephalosynapsis is an extraordinarily rare congenital abnormality
and this, therefore, makes it very difficult to predict the long-term outcome for this baby," she wrote.

"I have explained to them [the parents] that children with this condition are likely to be profoundly handicapped with severe physical and learning disabilities and will be totally dependent for the whole of their life," she continued. "They often need the level of care given to babies for the whole of their lives."

Brandon's mother, Becky Weatherall, and father, Kriss Kramer, were offered "termination" because of the diagnosis and doctors' expectations he would be born deaf and blind and would survive no more than a few hours.

The report said, however, Brandon was born naturally and quickly given a clean bill of health after being examined by a team of specialists.

The parents say they are publicizing their situation to let people know.

"Perhaps doctors shouldn't put so much confidence in scans," Weatherall told the newspaper. "One of the older doctors we spoke to said a scan is like a fuzzy image of a snowstorm - it cannot be relied upon - and he turned out to be right."

The British Pediatric Neurology Association confirmed MRI scans are a new development, and "the problem is that it's hard to go from what the brain looks like to how it's going to work."

Officials at Cardiff told the newspaper they couldn't comment on individual cases because of confidentiality issues, but "ultrasound is not 100 percent accurate."

"I feel incredibly guilty thinking that I could have killed him - and then I find myself wondering how many other babies are killed who would have turned out to be completely health," Weatherall said. "Just two weeks before he was born scans showed that his head was so swollen it was off the scale for normal babies but when he had an MRI scan on Christmas Eve it was confirmed he was completely healthy.

"We had prepared to spend Christmas without him - we thought we'd be planning a funeral. Instead, it was the best Christmas present ever and now we're having a christening."

On the newspaper's forum, Sarah noted that scans are a "doubled edged sword" because they sometimes are inaccurate.

"Congratulations and well done for publicizing the story so other parents are made aware of these kinds of mistakes," added Cathy.

Officials said their investigation will focus on whether the diagnosis was incorrect, or whether the baby had some abnormalities, but then recovered.
(Posted: February 27, 2008, 8:56 pm Eastern, C 2008 WorldNetDaily)
 

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California ProLife Council (CPLC) (www.californiaprolife.org.) is the largest statewide organization in California solely dedicated to pro-life issues. CPLC is a non-sectarian, non-partisan, non-profit grassroots organization of pro-life groups and individuals in California dedicated to protecting and fostering the most basic value of our society- respect for LIFE itself.  We seek to educate our community in regard to abortion, euthanasia, and infanticide, to identify and organize the pro-life population of the state into an effective team, and to restore respect for human life to public policy.  California ProLife Council is the California affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee, Inc. (www.nrlc.org)