# Has anyone ever survived an abortion? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2006, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006 "2006-01-14T22:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StewieGriffin420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@StewieGriffin420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StewieGriffin420)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/1 "2006-01-14T22:50:46Z")
Has there ever been a case where a baby survived an abortion? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/2 "2006-01-14T23:08:09Z")
By definition, no. The same way that, again by definition, no one has ever survived electrocution. Now, if you want to know if there have ever been any botched _attempted_ abortions, that’s another matter entirely. I’m sure there have been. ---
**Author:** ![metj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@metj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metj)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/3 "2006-01-15T01:56:55Z")
[Here](http://members.tripod.com/~joseromia/survivors.html) is a website that lists some. I had only heard of the first one previously - I think she does public speaking around the country against abortion. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/4 "2006-01-15T03:23:18Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > The same way that, again by definition, no one has ever survived electrocution. If you mean death by electric chair, then you’re right. If you mean struck by lightning, there have been many cases where people survive. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/5 "2006-01-15T03:27:40Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > If you mean death by electric chair, then you’re right. If you mean struck by lightning, there have been many cases where people survive. From Merriam Webster: > [@](#): > > elec·tro·cute > > 1 : to execute (a criminal) by electricity > 2 : to kill by electric shock Electrocution, like abortion, by defintion means that the subject dies. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/6 "2006-01-15T03:28:52Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > If you mean death by electric chair, then you’re right. If you mean struck by lightning, there have been many cases where people survive. I believe **Q.E.D.** is referring to the fact that the definition of electrocution is to kill by electricity or electric shock. To survive such an ordeal would mean you weren’t electrocuted, but rather you were shocked. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/7 "2006-01-15T03:29:42Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > If you mean death by electric chair, then you’re right. If you mean struck by lightning, there have been many cases where people survive. No, what I mean is that the term _electrocution_ is defined as “death by electricity”. If you get shocked, but don’t die, you weren’t electrocuted. It’s a pet peeve of mine, you see. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/8 "2006-01-15T03:29:54Z")
Yeah, what **Colibri** said. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/9 "2006-01-15T03:31:16Z")
_shakes fist at the fast typists_ ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/10 "2006-01-15T04:46:56Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > It’s a pet peeve of mine, you see. How do you feel about people who survive drowning? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/11 "2006-01-15T04:54:39Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > How do you feel about people who survive drowning? Surprised. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/12 "2006-01-15T04:56:59Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > How do you feel about people who survive drowning? They don’t. Someone submerged for a long period who does not die in a \*near-\*drowning. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/13 "2006-01-15T05:00:13Z")
And what of people who die from a near miss?! ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/14 "2006-01-15T05:07:21Z")
An abortion is the spontanous or induced evacuation of the products of conception _during the first 12 weeks of gestation._ Since a fetus of less than 22 weeks is non-viable, outside the womb, by definition, an abortion can’t survive. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/15 "2006-01-15T05:08:12Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > They don’t. Someone submerged for a long period who does not die in a \*near-\*drowning. What if the person requires resuscitation? Could it not be said they drowned and survived? ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/16 "2006-01-15T05:14:23Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > And what of people who die from a near miss?! The near miss didn’t kill them but they might’ve been [scared to death](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/060106.html) as a result. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/17 "2006-01-15T05:34:16Z")
From Merriam-Webster: > [@](#): > > **abortion** > Function: noun > **1 :** the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus: as **a :** spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation — compare MISCARRIAGE **b :** induced expulsion of a human fetus **c :** expulsion of a fetus by a domestic animal often due to infection at any time before completion of pregnancy — compare CONTAGIOUS ABORTION ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/18 "2006-01-15T06:25:52Z")
What do they call it _after_ 12 weeks? I was not previously aware of this benchmark. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/19 "2006-01-15T06:29:54Z")
I read of a case, in some christian literature. The weird part is the woman’s name (who survived the abortion attempt) was Salina! (I trust you get it) ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006/20 "2006-01-15T10:38:36Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > What if the person requires resuscitation? Could it not be said they drowned and survived? No, they are still a near drowning. They are near drownings until they’re in a body bag. The 12 week time frame is used in the case of spontanous abortion. After 12 weeks it’s a miscarriage. I’d rather not discuss elective termination. I’ve tried in the past, to shed light on the subject, only to be shouted down as a baby hater/killer. :rolleyes: 'nite, all [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-survived-an-abortion/340006.md?page=2)