Even those who refused to embrace the technology of the typewriter were labeled Ludites, and were the source of ridicule, as they pitched their typewriters out the window. We risk a Luddite label of our own if we refuse to look the process of medical science squarely in the eye, and recognize that as science has grown dramatically, it has provided us a greater insight into the world of the unborn. Therefore, we must be willing to re-evaluate the decisions we as a society made in the 1970's, and replace it with a better decision today. Today we are hearing evidence, both medical and legal, that was not available to our counterparts in 1973. And in doing so, lead us to making better decisions for this vulnerable population.
Premature infants demonstrate an exaggerated response to pain.
The normal modulation that our brain provides when we feel something painful, is not able to 'tone down' the response of the preterm infant. It is difficult to think of a form of congenital abnormality where the infant cannot be delivered normally or by C-section. PBA proponents would try to lead you to believe that these deliveries would jeopardize the health of the mother. In fact it is the rare exception that would ever even put any mother's health in jeopardy. I believe the public is learning about it, but they do not appreciate all that we have covered today.