Is Pain the Definition of Personhood?

Lydia over at most-tranquil.blogspot.com launches into the pro-life blogosphere, critiquing an article (Jan 2008) at the Daily Mail.  An excerpt of the article follows,

"The upper time limit for abortion should be reduced from 24 weeks because foetuses can feel pain before that time, a scientist told MPs last night. Professor Sunny Anand from the University of Arkansas was invited to the Commons to present evidence that the part of the brain which can feel pain develops at around 20 weeks. He said it was very likely that foetuses aborted beyond that stage of pregnancy could feel 'excruciating pain'." - www.dailymail.co.uk

Lydia responds with a heaped spoon-full of reality,

It's amazing that they're even considering changing the law on this, but this article still left me cold. Their argument was that because foetuses feel "excruciating pain" before 24 weeks, the time limit should be dropped to below 20 weeks. They seem to think that once a foetus begins to feel pain, it is human. What a stupid way to define a human being. So now I know that because I feel pain, I am a person. Take away my sense of pain, and I become less than a person, without any right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is their point. They are quite willing to allow abortions to take place, to kill innocent babies, so long as those babies can not feel the murder. - "Can I Live", Most Tranquil blog

I couldn't have said it any better.  Head over to Lydia's blog for the full post.