Definitions of abortion

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Definitions of abortion vary from one source to another. Abortion has many definitions that can differ from each other in significant ways. Given the contentious nature of abortion, lawmakers and other stakeholders often face controversy in defining abortion. [1] [2] Language referring to abortion often reflects societal and political opinions (not only scientific knowledge). [3] Influential non-state actors like the United Nations [4] and the Roman Catholic Church have also engendered controversy over efforts to define abortion. [5]

Contents

Late termination of pregnancy is the term usually used for later uterine evacuation. [6]

Concerns in the medical community

Ambiguous definitions can create concerns in the medical community. [7] Physicians in several countries, including Ireland [8] [9] and Canada, [10] have expressed concern over ambiguous definitions of abortion. Even in situations where there is a clear definition of abortion, it does not always match definitions of related terms in effect in the same jurisdiction. [11]

Examples of definitions

The following is a partial list of definitions as stated by obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) textbooks, dictionaries, and encyclopedias:

Major OB/GYN textbooks

Other OB/GYN textbooks

Major medical dictionaries

Other medical dictionaries

Bibliographies

Major English dictionaries (general-purpose)

Other dictionaries

Encyclopedias

Philosophical essays

See also

Related Research Articles

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of all pregnancies. When deliberate steps are taken to end a pregnancy, it is called an induced abortion, or less frequently "induced miscarriage". The unmodified word abortion generally refers to an induced abortion. The most common reasons women give for having an abortion are for birth-timing and limiting family size. Other reasons reported include maternal health, an inability to afford a child, domestic violence, lack of support, feeling they are too young, wishing to complete education or advance a career, and not being able or willing to raise a child conceived as a result of rape or incest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miscarriage</span> Natural premature termination of pregnancy

Miscarriage, also known in medical terms as a spontaneous abortion, is an end to pregnancy resulting in the loss and expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the womb before it can survive independently. Miscarriage before 6 weeks of gestation is defined as biochemical loss by ESHRE. Once ultrasound or histological evidence shows that a pregnancy has existed, the term used is clinical miscarriage, which can be "early" or "late". Spontaneous fetal termination after 20 weeks of gestation is known as a stillbirth. The term miscarriage is sometimes used to refer to all forms of pregnancy loss and pregnancy with abortive outcomes before 20 weeks of gestation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amniocentesis</span> Sampling of amniotic fluid done mainly to detect fetal chromosomal abnormalities

Amniocentesis is a medical procedure used primarily in the prenatal diagnosis of genetic conditions. It has other uses such as in the assessment of infection and fetal lung maturity. Prenatal diagnostic testing, which includes amniocentesis, is necessary to conclusively diagnose the majority of genetic disorders, with amniocentesis being the gold-standard procedure after 15 weeks' gestation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Live birth (human)</span> Event that a fetus is born alive with heartbeats or respiration

In human reproduction, a live birth occurs when a fetus exits the mother showing any definite sign of life such as voluntary movement, heartbeat, or pulsation of the umbilical cord, for however brief a time and regardless of whether the umbilical cord or placenta are intact. After the fetus is expelled from the maternal body it is called a neonate. Whether the birth is vaginal or by caesarean section, and whether the neonate is ultimately viable, is irrelevant.

Late termination of pregnancy, also referred to politically as third trimester abortion, describes the termination of pregnancy by inducing labor during a late stage of gestation. In this context, late is not precisely defined, and different medical publications use varying gestational age thresholds. As of 2015, in the United States, more than 90% of abortions occur before the 13th week, 1.3% take place after the 21st week, and less than 1% occur after 24 weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obstetric ultrasonography</span> Use of medical ultrasonography in pregnancy

Obstetric ultrasonography, or prenatal ultrasound, is the use of medical ultrasonography in pregnancy, in which sound waves are used to create real-time visual images of the developing embryo or fetus in the uterus (womb). The procedure is a standard part of prenatal care in many countries, as it can provide a variety of information about the health of the mother, the timing and progress of the pregnancy, and the health and development of the embryo or fetus.

Rupture of membranes (ROM) or amniorrhexis is a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac. Normally, it occurs spontaneously at full term either during or at the beginning of labor. Rupture of the membranes is known colloquially as "breaking (one's) water," especially when induced rather than spontaneous, or as one's "water breaking". A premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is a rupture of the amnion that occurs at full term and prior to the onset of labor. In cases of PROM, options include expectant management without intervention, or interventions such as oxytocin or other methods of labor induction, and both are usually accompanied by close monitoring of maternal and fetal health. Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is when water breaks both before the onset of labor and before the pregnancy's 37 week gestation. In the United States, more than 120,000 pregnancies per year are affected by a premature rupture of membranes, which is the cause of about one third of preterm deliveries.

Fetal viability is the ability of a human fetus to survive outside the uterus. Viability depends upon factors such as birth weight, gestational age, and the availability of advanced medical care. In low-income countries, more than 90% of extremely preterm newborns die due to a lack of said medical care; in high-income countries, the vast majority of these newborns survive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artificial womb</span> Device that would allow for extracorporeal pregnancy

An artificial womb or artificial uterus is a device that would allow for extracorporeal pregnancy, by growing a fetus outside the body of an organism that would normally carry the fetus to term. An artificial uterus, as a replacement organ, would have many applications. It could be used to assist male or female couples in the development of a fetus. This can potentially be performed as a switch from a natural uterus to an artificial uterus, thereby moving the threshold of fetal viability to a much earlier stage of pregnancy. In this sense, it can be regarded as a neonatal incubator with very extended functions. It could also be used for the initiation of fetal development. An artificial uterus could also help make fetal surgery procedures at an early stage an option instead of having to postpone them until term of pregnancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pregnancy</span> Time of offspring development in mothers body

Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring develops (gestates) inside a woman's uterus (womb). A multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vacuum aspiration</span> Gynaecological procedure

Vacuum or suction aspiration is a procedure that uses a vacuum source to remove an embryo or fetus through the cervix. The procedure is performed to induce abortion, as a treatment for incomplete spontaneous abortion or retained fetal and placental tissue, or to obtain a sample of uterine lining. It is generally safe, and serious complications rarely occur.

Dilation and evacuation (D&E) or dilatation and evacuation is the dilation of the cervix and surgical evacuation of the uterus after the first trimester of pregnancy. It is a method of abortion as well as a common procedure used after miscarriage to remove all pregnancy tissue.

Prenatal development involves the development of the embryo and of the fetus during a viviparous animal's gestation. Prenatal development starts with fertilization, in the germinal stage of embryonic development, and continues in fetal development until birth.

In biology and medicine, gravidity and parity are the number of times a female has been pregnant (gravidity) and carried the pregnancies to a viable gestational age (parity). These two terms are usually coupled, sometimes with additional terms, to indicate more details of the female's obstetric history. When using these terms:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beginning of pregnancy controversy</span> Cultural-linguistic, not scientific question

Controversy over the beginning of pregnancy occurs in different contexts, particularly as it is discussed within the debate of abortion in the United States. Because an abortion is defined as ending an established pregnancy, rather than as destroying a fertilized egg, depending on when pregnancy is considered to begin, some methods of birth control as well as some methods of infertility treatment might be classified as causing abortions.

A fetus or foetus is the unborn mammalian offspring that develops from an embryo. Following the embryonic stage, the fetal stage of development takes place. Prenatal development is a continuum, with no clear defining feature distinguishing an embryo from a fetus. However, in general a fetus is characterized by the presence of all the major body organs, though they will not yet be fully developed and functional, and some may not yet be situated in their final anatomical location.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to obstetrics:

Foeticide, or feticide, is the act of killing a fetus, or causing a miscarriage. Definitions differ between legal and medical applications, whereas in law, feticide frequently refers to a criminal offense, in medicine the term generally refers to a part of an abortion procedure in which a provider intentionally induces fetal demise to avoid the chance of an unintended live birth, or as a standalone procedure in the case of selective reduction.

Early pregnancy bleeding is vaginal bleeding before 14 weeks of gestational age. If the bleeding is significant, hemorrhagic shock may occur. Concern for shock is increased in those who have loss of consciousness, chest pain, shortness of breath, or shoulder pain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abortion under Egyptian law</span> Part of the Egyptian Penal Law.

In accordance with Egyptian law, abortion is considered a criminal act that violates the right to life, as it is often intended to terminate the fetus right to future life. The Egyptian legislature has dedicated a separate chapter in the Penal Code, Title III, titled "Abortion of Pregnant Women and the Manufacture and Sale of Adulterated Drinks Harmful to Health." Egyptian law does not explicitly define abortion. Instead, it outlines the various forms of abortion and the corresponding penalties. The Egyptian Court of Cassation defines it as "deliberately terminating a pregnancy prematurely."

References

  1. ↑ Arzuaga, Bonnie Hope; Lee, Ben Hokew (December 2011). "Limits of Human Viability in the United States: A Medicolegal Review". Pediatrics. 128 (6): 1047–1052. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-1689 . PMID   22065266 . Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Morag-Levine, Noga (1998). "Imported problem definitions, legal culture and the local dynamics of Israeli abortion politics". Israel Affairs. 5 (2–3): 226–245. doi:10.1080/13537129908719520.
  3. 1 2 Kulczycki, Andrzej. "Abortion". Oxford Bibliographies . Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Hale, Ellen (9 September 1994). "Definitions slow debate on abortions". USA Today. p. 1A.
  5. ↑ "Defining the undefined key in abortion debate. The Catholic Church's position on the difference between direct and indirect abortion is considered by Joe Foyle". The Irish Times. 31 July 2000. p. 14.
  6. ↑ Grimes, David A.; Gretchen, Stuart (February 2010). "Abortion jabberwocky: the need for better terminology". Contraception. 81 (2): 93–96. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2009.09.005. PMID   20103443 . Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Roe, K.M. (1989). "Private troubles and public issues: providing abortion amid competing definitions". Social Science & Medicine. 29 (10): 1191–8. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(89)90362-6. PMID   2588046.
  8. ↑ Coulter, Carol (4 July 1996). "Legislation to clarify abortion issue advised". p. 7.
  9. ↑ Cassidy, Coleman (10 May 2000). "Definition of abortion is crucial gynaecologist". The Irish Times. p. 6. The definition of abortion is crucial to the efforts of the all-party Oireachtas committee, when it comes to make its recommendations, Dr Alistair McFar lane, a retired obstetrician and gynaecologist, told the hearing. No definition appeared in the Green Paper, he said, and the committee had heard a number of accounts from the various medical experts in the past week which differed as to whether or not the ending of pregnancy in certain procedures (carried out by all obstetricians on medical grounds) amounted to abortion.
  10. ↑ Brunt, Stephen (28 July 1988). "MDs seek precise definition in new law". The Globe and Mail (Canada).
  11. ↑ Schoen, Wendy L. (1990). "Conflict in the Parameters Denning Life and Death in Missouri Statutes". American Journal of Law & Medicine . 16 (555): 555–580. doi:10.1017/S0098858800008546. S2CID   26928012 . Retrieved 24 November 2013. The mere fact that a certain class of decisions is difficult cannot justify the absence of consistent supporting standards. Each state must compare the language of its statutes to determine whether the definitions of the parameters of life conflict. If these definitions conflict, as is the case with Missouri's Definition of Death and abortion regulation statutes, the state must amend the existing language to bring into concert the criteria defining these parameters. Each state should decide whether to accomplish this goal by changing its statute in which death is defined or by changing any other statute with conflicting criteria.
  12. ↑ Cunningham, FG; Leveno, KJ; Bloom, SL; Hauth, JC; Rouse, DJ; Spong, CY, eds. (2010). "1. Overview of Obstetrics". Williams Obstetrics (23 ed.). McGraw-Hill Medical. ISBN   978-0-07-149701-5.
  13. ↑ Annas, George J.; Elias, Sherman (2007). "51. Legal and Ethical Issues in Obstetric Practice". In Gabbe, Steven G.; Niebyl, Jennifer R.; Simpson, Joe Leigh (eds.). Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies (5 ed.). Churchill Livingstone. ISBN   978-0-443-06930-7.
  14. ↑ Kottke, Melissa J.; Zieman, Mimi (2008). "33. Management of Abortion". In Rock, John A.; Jones III, Howard W. (eds.). TeLinde's Operative Gynecology (10 ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN   978-0-7817-7234-1.
  15. ↑ Katz, Vern L. (2007). "16. Spontaneous and Recurrent Abortion – Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment". In Katz, Vern L.; Lentz, Gretchen M.; Lobo, Rogerio A.; Gershenson, David M. (eds.). Katz: Comprehensive Gynecology (5 ed.). Mosby. ISBN   9780323029513.
  16. ↑ Schorge, John O.; Schaffer, Joseph I.; Halvorson, Lisa M.; Hoffman, Barbara L.; Bradshaw, Karen D.; Cunningham, F. Gary, eds. (2008). "6. First-Trimester Abortion". Williams Gynecology (1 ed.). McGraw-Hill Medical. ISBN   978-0-07-147257-9.
  17. ↑ "Taber's Medical Dictionary: abortion". Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary . F.A. Davis. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  18. ↑ Stedman's Medical Dictionary (27 ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2000. ISBN   978-0683400083.
  19. ↑ Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary (31 ed.). Saunders. 2007. ISBN   9781416023647.
  20. ↑ "Medical Dictionary". Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary . Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster . Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  21. ↑ The American Heritage Science Dictionary . Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 2005. ISBN   9780618455041.
  22. ↑ Cambridge Dictionary of Human Biology and Evolution . Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press. 2005. OCLC   54374716.
  23. ↑ Mosby's Emergency Dictionary. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences. 1998. OCLC   37553784.[ verification needed ]
  24. ↑ "abortion". Dictionary of Medical Terms. London: A & C Black. 2005. OCLC   55634250.
  25. ↑ The American Heritage Medical Dictionary (reprint ed.). Houghton Mifflin. 2008. p. 2. ISBN   978-0618947256. OCLC   608212441.
  26. ↑ The Dictionary of Modern Medicine. Parthenon Publishing. 1992. p. 3. ISBN   978-1850703211.
  27. ↑ Churchill's Medical Dictionary. Churchill Livingstone. 1989. p. 3. ISBN   978-0443086915.
  28. ↑ "abortion, n.". Oxford English Dictionary (Third ed.). Oxford University Press. September 2009; online version September 2011
  29. ↑ "abortion". Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers . Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  30. ↑ "abortion". Dictionary.comUnabridged. Random House, Inc. 27 June 2011.
  31. ↑ Merriam-Webster Dictionary , from Merriam-Webster, an Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
  32. ↑ Chambers 21st Century Dictionary. London: Chambers Harrap, 2001.
  33. ↑ Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English , online edition.
  34. ↑ The American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin Company. 2005.
  35. ↑ "abortion."Dictionary of World Philosophy. London: Routledge, 2001.
  36. ↑ Garner, Bryan A. (June 2009). Black's Law Dictionary (9th ed.). Thomson West. ISBN   9780314199492.
  37. ↑ "Abortion (pregnancy)". Encyclopædia Britannica . 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  38. ↑ "Abortion". The Columbia Encyclopedia. New York: Columbia University Press. 2008.
  39. ↑ "Abortion". World Encyclopedia, Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. 2008.
  40. ↑ "Abortion and miscarriage". The Royal Society of Medicine Health Encyclopedia. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. 2000.
  41. ↑ "Abortion". Encyclopedia of Human Rights Issues since 1945 (1 ed.). Santa Barbara, California: Routledge. 1999. ISBN   978-1579581664.
  42. ↑ Warren, M. A. "On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion". Monist 57:1 (1973): 43-61. Reprinted in Mappes and DeGrazia 2001: 456-463.
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