Western Australia may have some of the strictest abortion laws in that country, but children are not only being aborted late in term, they are left to die when born alive. The law there restricts most abortions beyond 20-weeks, yet 27 children in that state survived their abortion attempts between 1999 and 2016.
As LifeNews.com highlighted, Nick Goiran, a Liberal MP from Western Australia, has called on Parliament for an investigation into these deaths, along with submitting a petition of 7,000 signatures. As of yet, the Department of Health won’t even produce reports Goiran has asked for.
While full-term pregnancy is between 37 and 40 weeks, babies born preterm can still survive and thrive, the earliest at 21-weeks. Why then, were these babies, most who were born just around then or afterwards, left alone to die, or at the very least given substandard care?
Fifteen of the 27 were aborted between 20-25 weeks, with six aborted after 26 weeks. Without reports, it is unclear why these babies were aborted, including if there was a chance they would likely have died shortly after birth due to a fatal fetal abnormality.
In the United States, as a result of the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decisions Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, abortion is available in all 50 states, throughout pregnancy. Currently being considered is a federal law which would ban most abortions past 20-weeks, which is already on the books in several states.
READ: Here’s Why the United States Must Pass Legislation to Ban Late-Term Abortions
Many opponents argue that late-term abortions are performed for reasons such as fetal abnormalities. Reports, however, including from pro-choice organizations and late-term abortionists, show that this is not often the case, but rather many late-term abortions are performed for socioeconomic reasons, the same ones which why abortions earlier in term may be performed.
Regardless as to why an abortion may be performed, however, the reality is that it is the direct taking of an innocent, vulnerable and defenseless life. All human beings are created with equal human dignity and worth, and while some may not be equal in ability, that does not make them less human. When it comes to fatal fetal abnormalities, doctors may not also be 100 percent right on such a diagnosis, either.
Where all sides of the abortion debate, in all countries, should be able to agree is that a baby born alive from an abortion attempt deserves treatment and care once out of the womb.
In addition to other pro-life legislation, President George W. Bush signed into law the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, which was enacted in 2002. Notable pro-life activists, including Melissa Ohden and Gianna Jessen, managed to survive their abortion attempts from decades ago.
Despite this federal law, however, babies are still born alive and left to die here in the United States. Live Action has investigative footage as well as news articles showing the abortion industry admitting as much. At the federal level, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), who has introduced the 20-week abortion ban several times, has also introduced the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
States have been prompted to pass their own laws as well. In an infamous moment for abortion provider Planned Parenthood, a lobbyist for that group testified before the Florida legislature against such protections. What happens to the child, even if he or she is born alive, is “between a woman and her physician,” said Alisa LaPolt Snow, parroting a pro-choice talking point even in such an extreme example.
All unborn children have inherent worth that makes them more deserving than abortion. When children actually survive an abortion attempt, there is the chance to right that wrong. Instead, those children are made to suffer even further. It’s time for such a wrong to be corrected when it comes to all abortions, but certainly a start is with those who have a chance to escape such a tragic fate.