Ok, I'm anti-abortion. Let's get that out of the way.
However, I don't have any special ability that lets me control people's actions or minds (and thank goodness, I wouldn't want that responsibility) so I don't do the abortion debate anymore.
Everyone already knows the main points from both sides so why waste time arguing if it should or shouldn't be legal?
However, I am first and foremost a member of the medical profession and so when I see people spreading ignorance in matters of health, I hit the roof.
Here's my biggest pet peeves when it come to the abortion debate, from a strictly medical standpoint.
Terminology
Zygote: less than 16 cells. Don't call a 6 day old pregnancy a zygote, that's stupid.
Blastocyst: From 58 cells to about day 13-15. Don't call a 3 weeker a blastocyst, that's also stupid.
Embryo: from about day fifteen to week 8 after conception or 3 cm long, which ever comes first. Don't say a an aborted 1o weeker is an embryo. Again, you look like you have no idea what you're talking about.
Medical Assistance
If you're argument centers around how you aren't alive if you need mechanical support I am going to serve you for breakfast because you are probably good fried in grease with a side of eggs.
First of all, "mechanical support" or "the help of machines" is so vague that such a statement automatically clues me in to your ignorance. In addition to ventilators we have suction, bag-valve masks, NG tubes, Bili-lights and more that are actually commonly used in delivery of full term infants.
(And I take such a thing personally since without suctioning and a NG tube I wouldn't be here...and I was 3 weeks late...though I suppose some would argue that the world would be better were I not here)
Secondly, no one would say that a 6 year old or 16 year old on a ventilator is not alive or not human so the ventilator clearly has nothing to do with it.
Dependence
Lack of dependence does not make you human. My dog is not dependent on me but he is not human. However, I've had several very dependent patients. Ones that depend on medications, on IV pumps, on mobility devices, on ventilators, on blood transfusions. They are all still 100% human.
The absolute last thing I want is for my patients to be considered less than what they are. I take my job as a patient advocate VERY seriously and every time someone says something like this it's like they're attacking every one of my patients. Momma Nurse is going to lay the smackdown on you for that.
Anyway, it's DNA that make you human, as opposed to a cow or a pine tree or a fruit fly. Pick up a science journal sometime.
In the grand scheme of things I'm actually really pro-choice. I think we should have complete control over our own bodies until that control effects the body of another human being.
It's why I'm for physician assisted suicide for the terminally ill.
It's why I'm against someone knocking you unconcious and stealing your kidney because theirs are failing.
**NOTE** And none of the strawman arguments about "You only care about the unborn. Once they're born and not being cared for you don't give a shit." I will rip out your eyes and feed them to a goose if you accuse me of that. I'm days away from being a pediatric ER nurse so don't give me that bull; you know very little about me.
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