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Week of April 17, 2000
"Capitalert" Life Advocacy Briefing # 7-16


ECHOING THE CONTINUING SCANDAL OF LIVE-BIRTH ABORTIONS at a Chicago
suburban
hospital, the lethal neglect of a baby who briefly survived an abortion in
Australia in 1998 is stirring a debate there about public policies toward
"unwanted" babies who are born alive.

When Northern Territory Coroner Greg Cavanagh brought down his findings in
the death of "Baby J" last Monday, he made clear his disapproval of the
"doctor's" approach to the case. He ruled the cause of death "premature
delivery," and, Miranda Devine in Sydney's Daily Telegraph reports, he said
much more.

Mr. Cavanagh objected to Baby J being "described as a fetus. ... 'The
deceased, having been born alive,' " said Mr. Cavanagh in the Telegraph, "
'deserved all the dignity, respect and value that our society places on
human
life. The fact that her birth was unexpected and not the desired outcome of
the medical procedure should not result in her and babies like her being
perceived as anything less than a complete human being.' "

The coroner, reports Victoria Button, writing in an Australian publication
called The Age, "recommended hospital protocols to ensure 'children who
survive termination are, at the very least, assessed for gestational age
and
viability by a medical practitioner.' He said unwanted premature babies
should be given the same right to medical and palliative care as terminally
ill elderly people."

Apparently, the delay in the coroner's finding resulted from a delay in his
office learning of the death. "Such deaths in future," said Mr. Cavanagh in
the Telegraph, "should be reported to the coroner, and the public had a
right
to be informed and take part in any debate."

The public, indeed, should be told the story of Baby J and all such stories
of heartless treatment by so-called medical personnel. Baby J lived 80
minutes after surviving the attempt on her life by abortionist Henry Cho. A
midwife noticed the baby's signs of life and "kept the baby warm," writes
Ms.
Devine, "and checked it every 10 to 15 minutes until its heartbeat and
breathing slowed and it died." While stating that the "doctor" was
responsible for directing a midwife in such a situation, Mr. Cavanagh
commended the midwife for taking unilateral action to extend compassion to
the child.

Testifying in coroner's court days ago, the midwife said the baby "appeared
to be about 24 weeks" in gestational age, though the "doctor's" estimate
had
placed the baby's age at 19 weeks. The midwife told the court "she had been
shocked to hear the baby cry and rang the mother's doctor Henry Cho to tell
him the baby was alive. His response," writes Ms. Devine, "was: 'So?' "

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