The Silent Scream

The Silent Scream is a pro-life propaganda video which allegedly depicts an actual abortion via ultrasound. Produced in 1984, it has been used to scare the bejesus out of generations of people, including children.

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In 1985, a panel of medical experts convened by Planned Parenthood declared that the video was "riddled with scientific, medical, and legal inaccuracies, misleading statements, and exaggerations".[1]

Dr. Edwin Myer, chairman of the department of pediatric neurology at the Medical College of Virginia, says "that the fetus feels pain is a totally ridiculous statement. Pain implies cognition. There is no brain to receive the information."[2]

Of course, nothing of the above stopped the film from being shown in the White House to President Ronald Reagan[3] , who claimed that "if every member of Congress could see that film, they would move quickly to end the tragedy of abortion."[4]

Five physicians review the film

Five physicians were invited by CBS Morning News to see the film and analyse it.

Dr. Niebyl pointed out, "right before (Dr. Nathanson) says the fetus is reacting and fighting aggressively, he has the film in very slow motion. Then, as the suction catheter's placed, he turns it on to regular speed. It's really very misleading."[5]

gollark: Here is the "pseudoscience" you "implied" you "wanted".
gollark: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/348702212110680064/767710424623349790/iu.png
gollark: I see.
gollark: A 10MB text file might take a while to read, summary?
gollark: It could just be that the extremes are more visible.

References
  1. https://www.scribd.com/document/96958198/Facts-Speak-Louder-Than-the-Silent-Scream-03-02
  2. Manipulative 'Silent Scream'
  5. "A False 'Scream'", The New York Times, 11 March 1985
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