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Monday, April 29, 2013

Vivisection

Antivivisection arose in Victorian England among members of polite society. This was due in large part to the fact that animal experimentation was performed without anesthetic.

Question: aren’t some standard abortion techniques vivisection? If it’s immoral to vivisect an animal, why is it moral to vivisect a baby?  

1 comment:

  1. Good point!

    I'd say D&C and D&E when used in the termination of pregnancy (abortion) are tantamount to vivisection:

    "What is dilation and curettage (D&C)? D&C is a surgical procedure in which the cervix is opened (dilated) and a thin instrument is inserted into the uterus. This instrument is used to remove tissue from the inside of the uterus (curettage)." (Source)

    Keep in mind the instrument used can be a surgical or sharp curettage (to mechanically scrape out the baby) or a suction curettage (to vacuum out the baby) or both.

    "What is suction curettage? Suction curettage is the most common type of abortion. The contents of the uterus [i.e. the baby] are removed by a suction device that is inserted into the uterus. It also may be called vacuum curettage. It can be done up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. After that time, this procedure may be called dilation and evacuation (D&E)." (Source)

    "Dilation and Evacuation: A procedure in which the cervix is opened and the contents of the uterus [i.e. the baby] are removed with suction or other surgical instruments." (Source)

    The above excerpts are taken from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

    Here are some drawings or illustrations: one; two; three; four.

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