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An '''abortionist''' is one who performs [[abortion|abortions]]. They are often [[abortion doctors | physicians]], but historically have also been, and still can be, [[midwife | midwives]], [[nurse | nurses]], [[physician assistant | physician assistants]], and trained or untrained laypersons.

An '''abortionist''' is one who performs [[abortion]]s. They are often [[abortion doctors|physicians]], but historically have also been, and still can be, [[midwife|midwives]], [[nurse]]s, [[physician assistant]]s, and trained or untrained laypersons.

The common perception is that prior to [[Roe vs. Wade]], [[illegal abortion]] was practiced by untrained people. This was not the case. Mary Claderone (then Medical Director of [[Planned Parenthood]]) and Nancy Howell Lee (a pro choice researcher) both investigated the practice of criminal abortion in the pre-legalization era. Calderone estimated that "90% of all illegal abortions are presently (1960 - ed) being done by physicians." Calderone further estimated that 8% were self-induced and that 2% were induced by someone other than the woman or a doctor.<ref name="Calderone">Mary Calderone, [http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/reprint/50/7/948.pdf "Illegal abortion as a public health issue,"] ''American Journal of Public Health'', July 1960</ref> Lee estimated that 89% of pre-legalization abortions were done by physicians, an additional 5% by nurses or others with some medical training, and 6% were done by non-medical persons or the woman herself.<ref name="lee">Nancy Howell Lee, ''The Search for an Abortionist'', University of Chicago Press, 1969</ref>

The common perception is that prior to [[Roe vs. Wade]], [[illegal abortion]] was practiced by untrained people. This was not the case. Mary Claderone (then Medical Director of [[Planned Parenthood]]) and Nancy Howell Lee (a pro choice researcher) both investigated the practice of criminal abortion in the pre-legalization era. Calderone estimated that "90% of all illegal abortions are presently (1960 - ed) being done by physicians." Calderone further estimated that 8% were self-induced and that 2% were induced by someone other than the woman or a doctor.<ref name="Calderone">Mary Calderone, [http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/reprint/50/7/948.pdf "Illegal abortion as a public health issue,"] ''American Journal of Public Health'', July 1960</ref> Lee estimated that 89% of pre-legalization abortions were done by physicians, an additional 5% by nurses or others with some medical training, and 6% were done by non-medical persons or the woman herself.<ref name="lee">Nancy Howell Lee, ''The Search for an Abortionist'', University of Chicago Press, 1969</ref>

Controversy has surrounded the dual role physicians who profit from performing abortions (or referring cases), as they are professionally bound to present all options from a neutral perspective, though in reality it is argued that this rarely occurs and undue pressure is placed on women to have an abortion.<ref>[http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/personal_beliefs/personal_beliefs.asp GMC guidance on Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice]</ref><ref>[http://www.springerlink.com/content/y7313825508j1262/ Physicians values and physician-value neutrality ''Journal of Religion and Health'']</ref>

Controversy has surrounded the dual role physicians who profit from performing abortions (or referring cases), as they are professionally bound to present all options from a neutral perspective, though in reality it is argued that this rarely occurs and undue pressure is placed on women to have an abortion.<ref>[http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/personal_beliefs/personal_beliefs.asp GMC guidance on Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice]</ref><ref>[http://www.springerlink.com/content/y7313825508j1262/ Physicians values and physician-value neutrality ''Journal of Religion and Health'']</ref>

==See Also==

==See also==

*[[Abortion]]

*[[Abortion]]

*[[George Tiller]]

*[[George Tiller]]

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[[category:medicine]]

[[Category:Medicine]]

[[Category:abortion]]

[[Category:Abortion]]

[[Category:Abortionists]]

[[Category:Abortionists]]