This picture is doing the rounds on fb at the moment.
"Take a good look at this picture. It's one of the most remarkable photographs ever taken. The tiny hand of a foetus reaches out from a mother's womb to clasp a surgeon's healing finger. It is, by the way, 21 weeks old, an age at which it could still be legally aborted. The tiny hand in the picture above belongs to a baby which is due to be born on December 28. It was taken during an operation in America recently. Paul Harris reports on a medical development in the control of the effects of spina bifida ... and on a picture which will reverberate through the on-going abortion debate here." More...
It is an amazing photograph. That part is true. But the rest of the story isn't really. The tiny hand isn't reaching out from a mother's womb to clasp a surgeon's healing finger. The foetus and its mother are completely sedated. The doctor has pulled the baby's hand out.
Does it matter? I guess not, really. But why emote-up the story? Half truths will not add credibility to the pro-life cause.
Friends, check stuff out before you post on facebook. The baby's name is Samuel Armas (he's now 11). Google him.
Yep, I agree. In this debate it is crucial that we are absolutely scrupulous with the facts and wary of using exaggeratedly emotional language. The latter may express how passionately pro-lifers feel but will not convince any thoughtful person in the other camp.
ReplyDeleteI agree too. Stories like this sensationalise the whole issue...
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