Foetuses feel no pain before age of 24 weeks

THE human foetus cannot feel pain before the age of 24 weeks so there is no reason to change the current abortion limit, health experts said today.

Nerve connections in the brain are not sufficiently formed to allow pain perception until after the official 24-week limit for terminations.

The study also said the foetus was in a state of "continuous sleep-like unconsciousness or sedation" even after 24 weeks.