Botched abortion after misdiagnosed fetal defect
Rome, Italy (LifeNews.com) -- The baby boy who became the victim of an abortion after doctors failed a disability test on him died over the weekend. Physicians advised his mother to have an abortion after they had misdiagnosed a physical deformity but the boy survived the procedure.
Doctors at the teaching hospital Careggi performed two ultrasounds on the boy and his mother and they said he had a defective esophagus. That's a disorder that surgery could have corrected after birth in some cases.*
However, when they went to abort the baby boy, they discovered he was healthy and desperately tried to resuscitate him.
The boy was born health and lived for six days following the failed abortion, which was done at 22 weeks into the pregnancy.
Italy's abortion law allows abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy in certain cases but it also requires doctors to do all they can to save the life of a baby who survives a botched abortion attempt.
* According to this article from the Guardian, the success rate for the operation to repair this defect is "75% to 80%."
What do you think of this story? Should this woman have been advised to abort? What do you think can or should be done to prevent tragedies like this?
Do you think the mother should have the right to sue for damages? Should the doctors be held civilly or criminally responsible?
Any other thoughts or opinions? ... Any pro-lifers out there want to add your thoughts?
Doctors at the teaching hospital Careggi performed two ultrasounds on the boy and his mother and they said he had a defective esophagus. That's a disorder that surgery could have corrected after birth in some cases.*
However, when they went to abort the baby boy, they discovered he was healthy and desperately tried to resuscitate him.
The boy was born health and lived for six days following the failed abortion, which was done at 22 weeks into the pregnancy.
Italy's abortion law allows abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy in certain cases but it also requires doctors to do all they can to save the life of a baby who survives a botched abortion attempt.
* According to this article from the Guardian, the success rate for the operation to repair this defect is "75% to 80%."
What do you think of this story? Should this woman have been advised to abort? What do you think can or should be done to prevent tragedies like this?
Do you think the mother should have the right to sue for damages? Should the doctors be held civilly or criminally responsible?
Any other thoughts or opinions? ... Any pro-lifers out there want to add your thoughts?