Abortion

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." Thus, the word includes miscarriage, but commonly refers to induced abortion; that is, the intentional performance of a procedure which causes the death of a living organism. Conservatives who regard human life as beginning at birth argue that this amounts to the murder of innocent babies while in the womb of their mother.

Abortion is a controversial topic in the United States. Prior to 1973 it was illegal, usually criminal, and considered to be serious medical misconduct. The 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.

Those who support abortion insist upon terms like "fetus"-- seemingly to minimize the humanity of unborn infants; those against it usually try to stress human element by referring to them as "unborn babies".

The movement in the United States which opposes abortion calls itself the "Pro-Life" movement; the movement which supports it labels itself the "Pro-Choice" movement.