Child is a child

A Sept. 19 article told about two Swedish women being implanted with the uteri of their mothers in the hopes of becoming pregnant. Rather than enlist the use of a surrogate, they chose to undergo this costly and dangerous operation. Throughout the world, the desperation of thousands of barren women has encouraged research in this type of procedure.

Meanwhile, millions of other women are visiting clinics with the express purpose of ridding themselves of inconvenient pregnancies. Some of them had been victims of rape or incest. Others simply want to drop off their luggage and continue on with their carefree lifestyles. A very small minority are experiencing pregnancies that would eventually endanger the lives of both the mother and child.

The placenta has several roles. In addition to providing nourishment, and eliminating waste, it shields the unborn child from being attacked by the mother’s own immunity system. This fact alone belies the statement that he or she is just a piece of matter with no worth. Sonograms have actually shown aborted children attempting to evade the sweep of a scalpel.

Whether a product of rape, incest, or debauchery, a child is still a child.

Douglas R. Benn

Spokane