Emerald Er(Llt01*l/- Mav 1!1) that \vr list*
a "quality of 111«*'' premise to
support Ixith pro i lion e and
pro-euthanasia positions tails
to make important distinc tions
between the beginning and tile
ending of life* furthermore. a
polic v of predic ating life* as
worthy based on its mate hing
"a set of c riteria for human
ness " rather than the innate
sanctity of life, is wide open to
abuse
There are at least three differ
riici’s between the pro c hoice
and pro-euthanasia positions
outlined b\ Kousseve first, a
woman c boosing to abort is de
ciding not to end tier own life,
but the life in hei womb Sec
ond. unborn life is not suffer
mg from a "hopeless condition
of painful deterioration " Haiti
er. the embryo, then fetus, is
developing at an astonishing
rate heartbeat .it J4 days, brain
waves at -f t days complete
ears, fingers, toes at 4‘i days
etc Third no tec hnoiogic at
marvels of modern medi( ino"
are needed to support healths
life m the womb
Besides, induing life, espe
cially someone else's life, to be
worth living based on a
personhood test is a dangerous
tai h We know unborn life is
subject to extinction The im
plii ation for other lives that fail
to demonstrate such "qualities
ol actual personhood" as the
abilitv to "relate i aringh to
others, and the life" is obvious
In our i ontemporarv American
culture which undervalues its
women, children. elderly,
poor, disabled and rat ial mi
norities, thoughtful people
should have grave reservations
about the quality of life pose
t ions
Kathleen Freeman
(.raduate student
Sex work
Feminists have been split tor
a while on the issue of porting
rapln Is it the exploitation of
women who have few other
good economic i limccs' Or is it