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The word '''abortion,''' in connection with pregnancy, can be defined as "Termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a fetus that is incapable of survival."<ref>American Heritage Dictionary definition, [http://www.bartleby.com/61/7/A0020700.html abortion]</ref> Thus, the word includes miscarriage, but commonly refers to ''induced'' abortion, abortion that is the result of intentionally performing a procedure that induces it.  

The word '''abortion,''' in connection with pregnancy, can be defined as "Termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a fetus that is incapable of survival."<ref>American Heritage Dictionary definition, [http://www.bartleby.com/61/7/A0020700.html abortion]</ref> Thus, the word includes miscarriage, but commonly refers to ''induced'' abortion, abortion that is the result of intentionally performing a procedure that induces it.  

Abortion is a controversial topic in the United States. Prior to 1973 it was illegal and considered to be serious medical misconduct. The [[The United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]]'s 1973 [[Roe v. Wade]] decision ruled that abortions are permissible, as a woman's choice, up to the point at which the fetus becomes able to survive outside the womb.

Abortion is a controversial topic in the United States. Prior to 1973 it was illegal and considered to be serious medical misconduct. The [[The United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]]'s 1973 [[Roe v. Wade]]<ref>Online text of [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=CASE&court=US&vol=410&page=113 ROE v. WADE, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)]</ref> decision ruled that abortions are permissible, as a woman's choice, up to the point at which the fetus becomes able to survive outside the womb.

The controversy on abortion turns on the definition of humanity. Those who oppose it usually hold that human life begins at conception, that embryos and fetuses are already human, and their destruction therefore is murder. They often underline their point by avoiding the medical-sounding word embryo and fetus, which emphasis the differences from newborn infants whom everybody regards as human, and instead referring to them as "unborn babies."

The controversy on abortion turns on the definition of humanity. Those who oppose it usually hold that human life begins at conception, that embryos and fetuses are already human, and their destruction therefore is murder. They often underline their point by avoiding the medical-sounding word embryo and fetus, which emphasis the differences from newborn infants whom everybody regards as human, and instead referring to them as "unborn babies."