Letter: Life begins and ends with a heartbeat

As a pro-life supporter, I have been in many discussions and debates on the issue of abortion. There have been many points as to the rights of the mother and of the unborn baby, with some focus around the timing of an abortion during the pregnancy. I feel many questions are impossible to be answered until parties on both sides decide the question of “when does life begin,” as this applies to our rights to life, freedom and pursuit of happiness.

I believe there is a scientific answer to the question in the fact that life does end when the heart no longer beats — therefore would not the opposite be scientifically true that at the least life begins at the first heartbeat? And if that is true, where does the heartbeat come from? I propose it comes from the beginning — where else but — conception.”

Len Anderson, Mahtowa