A hysterectomy is removal of the womb (uterus).

Yes, but it also a form of abortion.

If a woman is pregnant and needs an emergency hysterectomy for some reasons, and the fetus was viable, it doesn't seem logical that it would be left to die. Or are you suggesting that women undergo hysterectomies specifically to abort?

Oh, sorry, I just realised you mean >>hysterotomy<< not hysterectomy.

Just incidentally, a fetus is not usually viable at 20 weeks, anyway -- more like 26. If the procedure is performed, like with most late-term abortions, it is in the vast majority of cases because the fetus would not be viable anyway, eg because of severe hydrocephalia/anencephalia.

It does seem reasonable to me that if the fetus can survive outside the womb, in an incubator or whatever, that it should be allowed to do so, and the mother should opt to give it up for adoption at that stage.

Actually it really is more like 20-24. I know for a fact 24 because my bf was born through c section at 24 weeks and he survived (thank god). 20 weeks, small percentage but it is still possible. A hysterotomy abortion is the same way my bf was born but he was allowed to live. Now if the baby had his liver growing in it's arm or his head out his back or something like that, then it would be ok because obviously the baby may not survive and that would be rather uncomfortable but any other reason besides the immediate death of one of them should birth happen, than maybe dilation and intact extraction (there, pc'rs happy, I didn't say pba). That's if they want to keep their abortion is not homicide stance but when they have a procedure such as hysterotomy, than that stance is obviously very questionable if not completly wrong.



Side note:
can someone tell me where the bbcodes are listed? I have them on but can not find them...?

I have heard of a 21 week premie surviving through advancements in technology but not 20 week not to say that its not possible or a plausable argument.

According to a pediatrics website:

survival is nearly impossible at or below 22 weeks gestation.
Between 23-26 weeks gestation, survival increases markedly.
At 23 weeks, overall survival is usually less than 25%.
Between 24-25 weeks, survival increases to about 50-60%.
By 26 weeks, gestation survival is over 80%.

The main problem is lung development for premature babies, because if they are too early they can't even be kept alive in incubators. It also says "the average cost of a hospital stay for a surviving infant born before 26 weeks gestation is $250,000." what happens in the usa when someone doesnt have health insurance? Or if someone was planning to give up for adoption, who pays the cost? (i'm not wearing my pro-choice hat here!!! I'm actually genuinely curious how things work in a country wihtout a national health service?)

if the baby is born premature one of four things could happen. Either she has health coverage and the baby is covered; she has no income and can get state medicare; she has income but no medical coverage and ends up health question out of luck; or the adoptive parents health insurance retros back to day one of care (but usually an insurance company will disallow coverage if you try to adopt a knowingly ill child). If you want to adopt said child, you must find another way to pay the costs which more than likely would deter a person from adopting that child.


I have heard of a new medical procedure used on premies that involves filling the lungs with liquid oxygen (or highly oxygenate liquid) that has shown some success but it is still considered experimental and hasn't been used below twenty weeks.

Usually the adopting parents are willing to pay the medical costs.

If a woman does not work, the baby is eligible for a medical card (in the u.S) and if she does work but cannot afford health insurance, the child is usually still eligible.

Not too many people have a few hundred thousand just laying around.



i wish that were the case. I know from personal experience that you don't (or the baby) automatically qualify and I have a pretty nasty credit report to prove it.

Okay well everyone I know who had a baby and could not afford health insurance automatically qualified for a medical card. Not necessarily the mother, but definately the baby.

And no, not many people do have thousands of dollars laying around. This is why there are so many children still in the adoption "system" instead of in loving homes.