On Saturday, 12 November, I had the privilege of speaking alongside Timothy Herrmann, UN Representative for the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, and Ide Nic Mhathuna, Campaign Director for Ireland’s Youth Defence at the 2011 International Pro-Life Youth Conference held in Los Angeles, California. The conference was hosted by Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust and Youth Defence. We were participating in a panel with the topic of “Advocating Life Internationally”. I’ve posted below a slightly cut-down version of the talk I gave. Speeches given by other speakers at the conference can be viewed on the Survivors’ YouTube channel. Additionally, Timmerie has done a great write-up on day 1 and day 2 of the conference.
Hi,
I am a prolife pediatrician from Arkansas. I have attached a couple of documents you might be interested in. The US Supreme Court based their ill fated Roe v Wade decision in 1973 based on the contention that the medical profession had not determined when life begins. I have read the decision over and over. It makes no sense.
The Court either ignored or failed to discover available evidence to the contrary. Their stated conclusion was incorrect. Physicians had, in fact, demonstrated opinion of when life begins some thirteen months earlier. The Court overlooked the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advocacy statement published December 1, 1971 in the Newsletter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (now called AAP News). In this policy statement, which I can make availalble to you, the AAP redefined the purview of the pediatrician to include the unborn to conception.
This statement was then published in the AAP journal PEDIATRICS, March 1972, as policy statement of the organization referred to as the “Age Limits of Pediatrics.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics inception as an organization was some 40 years earlier for the primary purpose of advocacy of children, the reason they fragmented from the AMA. In 1971 they expanded their advocacy to the unborn from conception. Surely, if worthy of advocacy by pediatricians as part of those children for whom they have purview, then surely they are worthy of personhood. How could the Court not have taken this into consideration – purposeful exclusion of medical fact or failed discovery of pertinent medical evidence?
ACOG – the Obstetrician organization approved this position. I have documentation for this also.
Roe v Wade should have never become law. Hope this is of interest to you.
Fred de Miranda, MD, FAAP, FCP
Fort Smith, AR