Abortion, science and sociology

Sir, – Emer O'Toole's claim that "science and sociology are on the side of pro-choice" is wishful thinking ("Science and sociology are on the side of pro-choice", July 27th).

In fact, decades have passed since the amazing advances of science opened a window to womb and proved, beyond all doubt, the humanity of the unborn child.

Public awareness of the scientific facts around foetal development is one reason why the Irish public does not support calls to legalise abortion as a matter of “choice”.

Another reason is that many women are negatively impacted by abortion. Numerous studies have shown this to be the case, not least the work of Dr David Fergusson, whose research found that women who had abortions were 30 per cent more likely to experience mental disorder.

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The number of Irish women travelling for abortions has fallen by 45 per cent in the past 11 years. Providing better supports to women in crisis is the more enlightened answer that terminates the crisis, and not the child.

Since the pro-life amendment was passed in 1983, polls show very little movement in public support for legalising abortion on demand.

That’s because the Irish people recognise that there is always a better answer than abortion.

That progressive thinking should be a matter of national pride, not as Emer O’Toole claims “a national shame”, because no amount of wishful thinking can change the fact that abortion kills babies and hurts women. – Yours, etc,

NIAMH UÍ BHRIAIN,

The Life Institute,

Dublin 1.

Sir, – William Reville's argument against abortion is based on a view that there is a continuum of human life that runs from conception to old age (July 29th).

A difficulty for this argument is that despite the growth we experience between birth and a wished for 90 years, the growth and change the unborn undergo in nine months is far greater, and involves far more substantive changes in form and biological complexity.

Essentially, human development along this continuum is of a different order before and after birth.

A baby and the foetus in late pregnancy are practically the same entity; there is no such equivalence between a baby and the unborn in the early days or weeks of pregnancy. Thus while human life may be traced back to conception, the vast changes that occur as we travel back along this path weaken the argument for claiming the same human rights for each stage of pregnancy. – Yours, etc,

COLIN WALSH,

Templeogue,

Dublin 6W.