The First Ache

New York Times by Annie Murphy Paul | Feb. 10, 2008 (News Report)

Over the past four years, anti-abortion groups have turned fetal pain into a new front in their battle to restrict or ban abortion. Anti-abortion politicians have drafted laws requiring doctors to tell patients seeking abortions that a fetus can feel pain and to offer the fetus anesthesia; such legislation has already passed in five states. Anand says he does not oppose abortion in all circumstances but says decisions should be made on a case-by-case ... Full Story »

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by Lynne Rustad - Oct. 1, 2008

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.