Law Determines Life Begins at Conception

Intro

When discussing abortion, most disagreements center around whether abortion actually ends human life. Did you know that the courts have already made a ruling on whether abortion ends human life?


Background

The ruling from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals can be found at this link. Just in case it moves...it is case number 05-3093, it was filed on 6/27/2008, and it is entitled "Panned Parenthood v Mike Rounds".

For brief background, South Dakota passed a law increasing the information requirements for informed consent before an abortion. Planned Parenthood requested an appeal to a higher court in the hopes of eliminating the law.


Language in the Ruling

The ruling, while a step in the right direction, is not necessarily a huge deal.  However, the language of the ruling is incredible!  Here are a few excerpts:

"That the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being;" ~ Page 3 

"That the pregnant woman has an existing relationship with that unborn human being and that the relationship enjoys protection under the United States Constitution and under the laws of South Dakota;" ~ Page 3 

"The Act...amended to define “Human being” for the purposes of the informed-consent-to-abortion statute as “an individual living member of the species of Homo sapiens, including the unborn human being during the entire embryonic and fetal ages from fertilization to full gestation.” ~ Page 4

This is language that is written into law!  Approved by the judicial system of the US to be absolutely true.

Testimonies in Support of the Finding

This finding was supported by testimony from specialists in a multitude of fields including the following:

Marie Peeters-Ney, M.D., a physician and geneticist:

"Becoming a member of our species is conferred immediately upon conception. At the moment of conception a human being with 46 chromosomes comes into existence. These chromosomes, the organization, the chromosomal pattern is specifically human. The RNA, the messenger protein, the proteins are distinctly human proteins. So this new human being is a member of our species, and humanity is not acquired sometime along the path, it occurs right at conception."  ~ Page 6

David Fu-Chi Mark, Ph.D., a molecular biologist employed in the pharmaceutical industry, stated:

"the Act’s definition of “human being” as an “‘individual living member of the species Homo sapiens,’ including human beings living in utero, makes it clear that the statement [abortion kills humans] is stated as a scientific fact and nothing more. As such, it is truthful and scientifically accurate.”...The affidavit described in detail the DNA and RNA science supporting the accuracy of the statement. ~ Page 7

Bruce Carlson, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of medicine and author of a widely used textbook on human embryology, stated:

"that “the post implantation human embryo is a distinct individual human being, a complete separate member of the species Homo sapiens, and is recognizable as such.” ~ Page 7

Conclusions

Long story short, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals (the penultimate legal authority in the nation) issued a ruling clearly stating that abortion terminates the life of a whole, separate, unique, and living human being.

So we now have the law, the Church, and science all agreeing that abortion ends a human life.  Raise these facts!  Send these links!  Do not let anyone get away with lying and saying that abortion does not end human life.

Keep Pursuing

Additional Materials

This post is part of a mini-series on when life begins.