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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.

An '''abortionist''' is one who performs [[abortion]]s, which is a brutal form of murder, specifically of unborn human beings.<ref>Taylor, Paul F (May 2, 2014). [https://answersingenesis.org/sanctity-of-life/abortion/is-it-really-a-matter-of-life-and-death/ Chapter 12: Abortion: Is It Really a Matter of Life and Death?]. ''Answers in Genesis'' (from ''The New Answers Book 3''). Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref> 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>