Ronald Morrison’s letter (“When does life begin?,” Our Readers’ Views, March 27) might have benefited from a modern medical perspective which cares for both mother and the child growing in her womb. While there is obviously a connection between mother and child (arguably the closest human connection and therefore a deeply felt loss when the child dies before or after birth) they are clearly two different human individuals, each with different DNA since the baby’s DNA comes from the father as well as the mother.
That being said, the baby’s developmental stages in the mother’s womb (from conception through birth) depend upon receiving nutrients and oxygen from the mother’s body, first the uterus in which the embryo implants about a week after conception (fertilization). A week or so later the umbilical cord develops and provides oxygen and nutrients from the mother via the placenta. However, like any other independent organism the baby’s growth is self-directed by the human genetic code present in every cell of his or her body.
Every human being from conception until natural death should be respected and supported in fact and protected by law. Interested in how and why? Check out www.clarkrtl.org.
