Based on the latest scientific evidence, can humans feel pain at 20 weeks after fertilization?
Correct Answer
Multiple facts from the following 7 scientific journals indicate that humans feel pain from 20 weeks after fertilization or earlier: The New England Journal of Medicine, Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, Anesthesiology, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, PLoS ONE, Science, and Pain: Clinical Updates. Claims to the contrary are based on the notion that people must have a fully functioning cerebral cortex in order to feel pain. However, scientific studies have proven this is false and that some children are born without any cerebral cortex and feel pain. In-utero pictures and videos of living humans at this stage of development are shown in the links below.
DocumentationFetal Pain Facts and FalsehoodsHuman Development