re: #501 avanti

Yes, and that is the law in all 50 states. Once viable outside the womb, all care must be provided.

Some qualification might be needed for that statement. I have seen, for example, emergency gravid hysterectomies, in which a woman’s entire uterus is removed, fetus and all, because of extremely severe bleeding that would have killed both the woman and the fetus if the surgery wasn’t performed immediately. Both times I saw this happen, the fetus was far too early along to have survived, even with the most aggressive neonatal ICU care imaginable. So, both times, the fetus was simply allowed to pass away naturally. They were deeply sad occasions. I don’t think I’ll ever forget either one.