Since 1973, when Roe vs. Wade, there have been many heated debates between pro-life and pro-choice groups. Because abortion is an option for women, it is important to know whether the fetus can feel pain during an abortion procedure. Several people considered abortion illegal unless it saved the mother's life (McBride). The court made its decision based on the history of abortion laws and considering three reasons to ban abortion. One was “A Victorian social concern to discourage illicit sexual conduct.” This was rejected due to modern gender roles. Second, “protecting women's health” meant providing a safe medical environment for the mother and was also rejected because medical technology was advancing. Third, the court supported the “protection of prenatal life” because it considered the fetus not yet a “person.” “American criminal and civil laws only sometimes consider fetuses as people deserving of protection” (McBride). From 1973 to 2013, an estimated 56.6 million abortions were performed among pregnant women. This is approximately 1.4 million abortions performed each year. The issue of abortion has also made the nation politically divided, because many see abortion as killing a child, while on the other side of the debate, many see it as whether it is a woman's right to choose whether she is ready for a child or not. Not. I personally believe that regardless of the gestational age of the fetus and/or baby, anesthesia should be administered to relieve pain, if any, to the fetus. Although abortion has been the focus of frequent discussion, the question remains whether the child endures. pain during the abortion procedure. Much of this research has been done by neurologists, p... half of the article... are actually humans. Works CitedAbortionfacts.com. “Fact #13 Unborn baby 8 weeks + feels real physical pain during an abortion.” Network. 8 June 2014. Abortion statistics. National right to life. Network. February 2014. Network. 8 June 2014Birthmothers.org. "Types of Abortions". Network. June 18, 2014.Downs, Rebecca. LifeNews.com. “Abortion Methods and Abortion Procedures Used to Kill Unborn Babies.” January 2, 2013. Network. June 18, 2014. Fragoso, Ashley Morrow. Family Research Council. “Fetal Pain Can unborn babies feel pain in the womb?” 2010. Network. 2014, 8 June. Grossu, Arina. Family Research Council. "Fetal pain." 2014, May. Network. 2014, June 13. Lubbe, Rachel. “The silent scream” (full length). Youtube. Network. 2012, January 27. Network. June 8, 2014McBride, Alex. PBS.org. Borderline cases. "Roe v. Wade (1973)". December 2006. Network. 2014, 8 June