Sir, Dr Balfour is concerned that the RCOG has ignored the work of Professor Anand (letter, Oct 30), but his review has only recently been published, meaning that the RCOG may not yet have had time to consider it. More importantly, nothing in it challenges the idea that the foetus cannot experience pain before 26 weeks. Most pain experts believe that the cortex is vital to pain experience and the cortex is not “wired up” before 26 weeks. The review by Professor Anand concedes that point.

Whether the foetus feels pain is an interesting question but it has little relevance to the debate. If foetal pain is possible then the foetus might be anaesthetised before the abortion or the procedure might be performed more quickly. There are many reasons to support abortion that remain valid even if the foetus can feel pain. Equally, there are many reasons to defend the welfare of the foetus that remain valid even if the foetus cannot feel pain.

Arguments over life, rights and the sovereignty of a woman’s body cannot be replaced by science dictating the conditions of an acceptable abortion. This would represent a tyranny of scientific expertise that should be equally unwelcome to opponents and supporters of abortion alike.

Dr Stuart W. G. Derbyshire
Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham

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