Abortion

Definition

Abortion refers to the termination of a pregnancy before the fetus can survive outside the uterus. It can be induced intentionally or occur naturally (miscarriage).

Related terms

Pro-choice: This term refers to the belief that individuals have the right to choose whether or not to terminate their pregnancies.

Pro-life: This term refers to those who believe that fetuses have a right to life and oppose abortion on moral grounds.

Roe v. Wade: A landmark Supreme Court decision in 1973 which ruled that a state law that banned abortions (except to save the life of the mother) was unconstitutional and that women have the constitutional right to choose whether to have an abortion.