Viability of Life

Someone on a messageboard I regular asked about abortion, and if it is ever an option.
Some talk was going around about whether or not the “fetus was viable”. I commented that this language was very disturbing, and asked some questions about what ‘viable’ means. Here is what I said:

this whole “the baby isn’t viable” language is extremely disturbing to me. First off, what is the defining factor(s) of what is and what is not ‘viable’. Second, who came up with these criteria? Third, what authority do they have to go around defining what is and what is not a ‘viable’ human life? And, lastly, who cares if it is ‘viable’ or not? I don’t see any validity in murdering someone because they are not ‘viable’. “Oh, this one will only live a few hours… let’s kill him now.” Ug. It really sickens me… the whole concept.

Here’s what the person (in the medical field) that started the thread said:

Not viable means will not survive birth, and unlikely to survive a full pregnancy. An example would be fetuses without brains (anencephaly). There are clear-cut medical conditions that are literally incompatible with life (the fetus has either already died in utero or will be stillborn), and the pregnancy may not miscarry, but may threaten the mother’s life if the fetus is not aborted.

It still really bothers me. I mean… it’s really just sick. This idea that we can just kill people that are not likely (to put it mildly) to survive to full term, let alone outside the womb, is repulsive to me. If a baby is going to die, then let the baby die. Don’t kill it.

And, also, if a child has a condition that is ‘incompatible with life’, are they even alive? By definition, it seems to be ruled out.