Quote Originally Posted by Meneldil
I think this question has to be answered by the authorities (=by the law), depending of rational thoughts as well as tradition.
Since the treaty signed on a convention on Costa Rica (i don't remember the year very well but it has to be after the 60's) the human being is considered like one since the moment of conception (this brings up certain other concecuenses), wich means the union of the espermatozoide with the ovum. But you should look at your own law for this. This is only mine. The rights of the will-to-be human being are considered irrebocables since the birth (he has to live only for a few seconds, that's all).

The only exception, because of this, prevented on our criminal code from abortion, is the case when the life of the mother is seriously menaced if the fetus keeps growing or if he borns. And to the contrary of what Gawain may think there exists cases of this type, being one of them when a child of 9 years (that already happened here) gets pregnant and obviously her body is not prepared to give birth to the child, for instance the doctors must recommend abortion.

If you ask to me the fetus is only considered a person (and entity who can adquire rights) when it's born. But that's my opinion, sure that someone with medical education may have a word or two on that.