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Fetal Pain

EDM number 1551 in 1993-94, proposed by Ann Winterton on 19/07/1994.

That this House notes repeated scientific reports on fetal sentience beginning with ID Hogg, published in 1941 in the Journal of Comparative Neurology; notes this demonstrated avoidance responses occur at five to six weeks gestation when the fetus is touched around the mouth and that this progresses to an almost complete range of responses at 12 weeks; notes that Professor Sir William Lilley, the pioneer of fetal medicine, persistently reported that the fetal response to pain is the same as that of any human or, indeed, a dog, cat or rat; notes that a report from the Council for Science and Society in 1984 called for the experimental use of human embryos up to six weeks after conception, explaining the limit on the grounds of the embryo's right 'not to feel pain' which they admitted was possible at six weeks; notes the Lancet report of 9th July 1994, stating 'the fetus mounts a hormonal stress response to invasive procedures ... raising the possibility that the fetus feels pain in utero and may benefit from anaesthesia'; notes the response that the fetus could be given anaesthesia which could endanger the mother; calls on the Secretary of State to ensure that all women undergoing abortion are properly informed on fetal sentience and potential anaesthetic dangers; and calls for changes to the Abortion Act to give protection to the human fetus which scientific evidence clearly indicates does feel pain yet has less protection than laboratory animals.

This motion has been signed by a total of 48 MPs, 2 of these signatures have been withdrawn.

MPDateConstituencyPartyType
Ann Winterton19/07/1994CongletonProposed
Phil Gallie19/07/1994AyrSigned
Nicholas Winterton19/07/1994MacclesfieldSigned
Gerard Vaughan19/07/1994Reading EastSigned
Vivian Bendall19/07/1994Ilford NorthSigned
David Alton19/07/1994Liverpool Mossley HillSigned
Harry Greenway19/07/1994Ealing NorthSigned
Bob Dunn19/07/1994DartfordSigned
Den Dover19/07/1994ChorleySigned
Geoffrey Dickens19/07/1994Littleborough and SaddleworthSigned
Nirj Deva19/07/1994Brentford & IsleworthSigned
Patrick Cormack19/07/1994South StaffordshireSigned
Dale Campbell-Savours19/07/1994WorkingtonSigned
Julian Brazier19/07/1994CanterburySigned
Thomas McAvoy19/07/1994Glasgow, RutherglenSigned
Edward Leigh19/07/1994Gainsborough and HorncastleSigned
Toby Jessel19/07/1994TwickenhamSigned
Andrew Hunter20/07/1994BasingstokeSigned
John Cummings20/07/1994EasingtonSigned
Stephen Day20/07/1994CheadleSigned
George Galloway21/07/1994Glasgow HillheadSigned
Joe Benton21/07/1994BootleSigned
David Atkinson21/07/1994Bournemouth EastSigned
Simon Hughes21/07/1994Southwark and BermondseySigned
Martin Smyth21/07/1994Belfast SouthSigned
Elizabeth Peacock21/07/1994Batley & SpenSigned
Bill Cash21/07/1994StaffordSigned
Michael Lord17/10/1994Suffolk CentralSigned
Eddie McGrady17/10/1994South DownSigned
Paul Murphy17/10/1994TorfaenSigned
Michael Colvin17/10/1994Romsey and WatersideSigned
Peter Fry17/10/1994WellingboroughSigned
John Wilkinson17/10/1994Ruislip - NorthwoodSigned
Patrick Nicholls18/10/1994TeignbridgeSigned
Jimmy Dunnachie18/10/1994Glasgow, PollokSigned
Calum MacDonald18/10/1994Na h-Eileanan an IarSigned
James Pawsey18/10/1994Rugby & KenilworthSigned
William Ross19/10/1994East LondonderrySigned
Jamie Cann19/10/1994IpswichSigned
David Sumberg19/10/1994Bury SouthSigned
Andrew Bowden20/10/1994Brighton, KemptownSigned
Jack Thompson20/10/1994WansbeckSigned
Seamus Mallon21/10/1994Newry & ArmaghSigned
Harold Elletson24/10/1994Blackpool NorthSigned
Paul Channon26/10/1994Southend WestSigned
Margaret Ewing02/11/1994MoraySigned
Jonathan EvansUnknownWithdrawn
John WattsUnknownWithdrawn

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