# In the Star Trek universe, do you think abortions are legal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 6, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-star-trek-universe-do-you-think-abortions-are-legal/640089 "2012-11-06T15:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-star-trek-universe-do-you-think-abortions-are-legal/640089/41 "2012-11-10T08:27:44Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Well, that’s a little harsh. He destroyed clones (of himself and Pulaski) that had not yet fully developed. They were adults. They had fully developed. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-star-trek-universe-do-you-think-abortions-are-legal/640089/42 "2012-11-10T12:23:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Wait, I thought the Trekkie conservative misogynist was Jack Ryan. Well, I dunno about full on “trekkie,” although he WAS really into— I’llshaddup. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-star-trek-universe-do-you-think-abortions-are-legal/640089/43 "2012-11-10T18:50:19Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > They were adults. They had fully developed. They were insentient and still in maturation chambers. ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-star-trek-universe-do-you-think-abortions-are-legal/640089/44 "2012-11-10T20:19:25Z")
One episode I think confirmed abortion is legal in the ST Universe. In the episode, “[The Child](http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/The_Child_%28episode%29),” Troi becomes impregnated by an alien. When she tells the command staff, Worf and later Dr. Pulanski suggest abortion to her. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-star-trek-universe-do-you-think-abortions-are-legal/640089/45 "2012-11-10T22:02:47Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > They were insentient and still in maturation chambers. Certainly an interesting legal case for the 24th century. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-star-trek-universe-do-you-think-abortions-are-legal/640089/46 "2012-11-11T03:33:54Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Certainly an interesting legal case for the 24th century. Granger does yell “Murderers!” at Riker once he’s found out what he’s done—although, to be fair, people of certain persuasions would say the same if he’d phasered a zygote. And a _lot_ of Trek types wouldn’t have said anything if he’d phasered an AI that was begging for it’s life. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-star-trek-universe-do-you-think-abortions-are-legal/640089/47 "2012-11-11T03:39:00Z")
The dialogue in TNG “The Child” makes it clear that Federation law leaves the decision of whether or not to have an abortion with the birth mother. Troi’s baby might actually pose a danger to the ship - but Picard leaves the decision with her. > [@Chronos](#): > > Wait, I thought the Trekkie conservative misogynist was Jack Ryan. Jack Ryan? Tom Clancy’s superhero CIA agent-Wall Street tycoon-accidental President? Or did you mean Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.)? I’ve never heard he’s a Trekker. President Obama is, though. _Newsweek_ in 2008 reported that he joked that his wife’s sparkly belt buckle must be made of dilithium crystals, a la TOS “Elaan of Troyius.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-star-trek-universe-do-you-think-abortions-are-legal/640089/48 "2012-11-11T03:47:40Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The dialogue in TNG “The Child” makes it clear that Federation law leaves the decision of whether or not to have an abortion with the birth mother. Troi’s baby might actually pose a danger to the ship - but Picard leaves the decision with her. > > Jack Ryan? Tom Clancy’s superhero CIA agent-Wall Street tycoon-accidental President? > > Or did you mean Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.)? I’ve never heard he’s a Trekker. Jack Ryan, the Goldman Sachs billionaire and ex-husband of Jeri Ryan, the actress who played Seven of Nine. Ryan was nominated as the Republican candidate for U.S. senator from Illinois in 2004. He withdrew his candidacy after documents from the divorce proceedings became public and revealed that part of the reason for the divorce was that Jack had pressured Jeri to attend swingers clubs. Ryan was replaced as the Republican candidate by Alan Keyes. Keyes lost in a landslide to Barack Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-star-trek-universe-do-you-think-abortions-are-legal/640089/49 "2012-11-11T04:32:40Z")
Oh, _that_ Jack Ryan! Thanks. Other than his choice of spouse, was he ever identified as a Trekker? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-star-trek-universe-do-you-think-abortions-are-legal/640089.md?page=2)