Various views on whether and when fetuses feel pain and should be given anesthetic during surgical procedure provides some interesting material. The article seems somewhat motivated toward a sentiment of opposing women's reproductive choice. Did that motivate the priority of and weighting of the various views of the "experts?"

there is much information in this article, information which adds to the complexity of the issues around whether or not women should have the legal right to abortion. the article doesn't take a stance on this and is focused on the potential arguments regarding how pain does or does not affect the human fetus, and the complex contradictions in discovering the answer, all based upon scientific studies on the subject.

Well researched piece on what pain may mean to a fetus/soon to be human depending on your value viewpoint. There seems to be a common medical basis for when the fetus feels pain, and how it may impact treatment for surgeries, and for the ramifications for pro-choice advocates. The article does allow the experts in the field to speculate philosophy on conclusions from that point, but does provide others as counter-point. It does not tackle the issue of if pain makes a "person" or not but does attempt to let the reader decide from the data provided.

While superficially neutral and introducing some research and views from the opposing sides of the debate, this piece gives unwarranted weight to the views of Anand. Although his earlier research on the neonatal pain response was well-respected, his later theories on fetal pain are purely hypothetical; he has developed a new career as the darling of the anti-abortion folks and is well-compensated for his testimony at trial ($450/hour + expenses). This article would have profited from less emotional content and more coverage of research that that raises serious questions about Anan's beliefs.

This is a rather good and balanced report on a key issue raised by pro-life physicians and advocay groups. It cuts through the misconceptions promoted by the abortion industry and its supporters about partial birth abortions. It provides a thorough airing of the medical evidence regarding pain felt by unborn babies.