Saving an Abortion Survivor

The AP reports that the Bush administration released an educational statement related to the enforcement of a federal law requiring doctors to attempt to keep alive a child that survives an abortion.

The Born-Alive Infant Protection Act of 2002 amends the legal definitions of "person,""human being,""child" and "individual" to include any fetus that survives an abortion procedure.

Those who meet the definition of "individual" are entitled to certain protections under federal law. In particular, hospitals can't refuse to treat them.

We can be glad that these children are now considered to be persons and will be protected by the government. However, the same child who is mystically classified as a "person" the instant he or she survives an abortion attempt can be legally killed just moments before. The child has not changed although his/her circumstances have. This bizarre transition into personhood, recognized by the U.S. government, reflects the twisted consequences of rejecting the instrinsic value of humans and embracing an instrumental standard that assigns an individual's worth on the basis of circumstances, utility, health and/or characteristics.

If you've never heard of someone surviving an abortion I suggest you read the testimonies of Sarah, Heidi, Audrey, Gianna and many others.