Definitions of abortion vary from one source to another. Abortion has many definitions that can differ from each other in significant ways. Given the contentious nature of abortion, lawmakers and other stakeholders often face controversy in defining abortion.[1][2] Language referring to abortion often reflects societal and political opinions (not only scientific knowledge).[3] Influential non-state actors like the United Nations[4] and the Roman Catholic Church have also engendered controversy over efforts to define abortion.[5]

Late termination of pregnancy is the term usually used for later uterine evacuation.[6]

Concerns in the medical community

Ambiguous definitions can create concerns in the medical community.[7] Physicians in several countries, including Ireland[8][9] and Canada,[10] have expressed concern over ambiguous definitions of abortion. Even in situations where there is a clear definition of abortion, it does not always match definitions of related terms in effect in the same jurisdiction.[11]

Examples of definitions

The following is a partial list of definitions as stated by obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) textbooks, dictionaries, and encyclopedias:

Major OB/GYN textbooks

Other OB/GYN textbooks

Major medical dictionaries

Other medical dictionaries

Bibliographies

Major English dictionaries (general-purpose)

Other dictionaries

Encyclopedias

Philosophical essays

See also

References

  1. ^ Arzuaga, Bonnie Hope; Lee, Ben Hokew (December 2011). "Limits of Human Viability in the United States: A Medicolegal Review". Pediatrics. 128 (6): 1047–1052. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-1689. PMID 22065266. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  2. ^ Morag‐Levine, Noga (1998). "Imported problem definitions, legal culture and the local dynamics of Israeli abortion politics". Israel Affairs. 5 (2–3): 226–245. doi:10.1080/13537129908719520.
  3. ^ a b Kulczycki, Andrzej. "Abortion". Oxford Bibliographies. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  4. ^ Hale, Ellen (9 September 1994). "Definitions slow debate on abortions". USA Today. p. 1A.
  5. ^ "Defining the undefined key in abortion debate. The Catholic Church's position on the difference between direct and indirect abortion is considered by Joe Foyle". The Irish Times. 31 July 2000. p. 14.
  6. ^ Grimes, David A.; Gretchen, Stuart (February 2010). "Abortion jabberwocky: the need for better terminology". Contraception. 81 (2): 93–96. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2009.09.005. PMID 20103443. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  7. ^ Roe, K.M. (1989). "Private troubles and public issues: providing abortion amid competing definitions". Social Science & Medicine. 29 (10): 1191–8. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(89)90362-6. PMID 2588046.
  8. ^ Coulter, Carol (4 July 1996). "Legislation to clarify abortion issue advised". p. 7.
  9. ^ Cassidy, Coleman (10 May 2000). "Definition of abortion is crucial gynaecologist". The Irish Times. p. 6. The definition of abortion is crucial to the efforts of the all-party Oireachtas committee, when it comes to make its recommendations, Dr Alistair McFar lane, a retired obstetrician and gynaecologist, told the hearing. No definition appeared in the Green Paper, he said, and the committee had heard a number of accounts from the various medical experts in the past week which differed as to whether or not the ending of pregnancy in certain procedures (carried out by all obstetricians on medical grounds) amounted to abortion.
  10. ^ Brunt, Stephen (28 July 1988). "MDs seek precise definition in new law". The Globe and Mail (Canada).
  11. ^ Schoen, Wendy L. (1990). "Conflict in the Parameters Denning Life and Death in Missouri Statutes". American Journal of Law & Medicine. 16 (555): 555–580. doi:10.1017/S0098858800008546. S2CID 26928012. Retrieved 24 November 2013. The mere fact that a certain class of decisions is difficult cannot justify the absence of consistent supporting standards. Each state must compare the language of its statutes to determine whether the definitions of the parameters of life conflict. If these definitions conflict, as is the case with Missouri's Definition of Death and abortion regulation statutes, the state must amend the existing language to bring into concert the criteria defining these parameters. Each state should decide whether to accomplish this goal by changing its statute in which death is defined or by changing any other statute with conflicting criteria.
  12. ^ Cunningham, FG; Leveno, KJ; Bloom, SL; Hauth, JC; Rouse, DJ; Spong, CY, eds. (2010). "1. Overview of Obstetrics". Williams Obstetrics (23 ed.). McGraw-Hill Medical. ISBN 978-0-07-149701-5.
  13. ^ Annas, George J.; Elias, Sherman (2007). "51. Legal and Ethical Issues in Obstetric Practice". In Gabbe, Steven G.; Niebyl, Jennifer R.; Simpson, Joe Leigh (eds.). Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies (5 ed.). Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 978-0-443-06930-7.
  14. ^ Kottke, Melissa J.; Zieman, Mimi (2008). "33. Management of Abortion". In Rock, John A.; Jones III, Howard W. (eds.). TeLinde's Operative Gynecology (10 ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-7234-1.
  15. ^ Katz, Vern L. (2007). "16. Spontaneous and Recurrent Abortion – Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment". In Katz, Vern L.; Lentz, Gretchen M.; Lobo, Rogerio A.; Gershenson, David M. (eds.). Katz: Comprehensive Gynecology (5 ed.). Mosby. ISBN 9780323029513.
  16. ^ Schorge, John O.; Schaffer, Joseph I.; Halvorson, Lisa M.; Hoffman, Barbara L.; Bradshaw, Karen D.; Cunningham, F. Gary, eds. (2008). "6. First-Trimester Abortion". Williams Gynecology (1 ed.). McGraw-Hill Medical. ISBN 978-0-07-147257-9.
  17. ^ "Taber's Medical Dictionary: abortion". Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. F.A. Davis. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  18. ^ Stedman's Medical Dictionary (27 ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2000. ISBN 978-0683400083.
  19. ^ Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary (31 ed.). Saunders. 2007. ISBN 9781416023647.
  20. ^ "Medical Dictionary". Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary. Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  21. ^ The American Heritage Science Dictionary. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 2005. ISBN 9780618455041.
  22. ^ Cambridge Dictionary of Human Biology and Evolution. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press. 2005. OCLC 54374716.
  23. ^ Mosby's Emergency Dictionary. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences. 1998. OCLC 37553784.[verification needed]
  24. ^ "abortion". Dictionary of Medical Terms. London: A & C Black. 2005. OCLC 55634250.
  25. ^ The American Heritage Medical Dictionary (reprint ed.). Houghton Mifflin. 2008. p. 2. ISBN 978-0618947256. OCLC 608212441.
  26. ^ The Dictionary of Modern Medicine. Parthenon Publishing. 1992. p. 3. ISBN 978-1850703211.
  27. ^ Churchill's Medical Dictionary. Churchill Livingstone. 1989. p. 3. ISBN 978-0443086915.
  28. ^ "abortion, n.". Oxford English Dictionary (Third ed.). Oxford University Press. September 2009; online version September 2011
  29. ^ "abortion". Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  30. ^ "abortion". Dictionary.comUnabridged. Random House, Inc. 27 June 2011.
  31. ^ Merriam-Webster Dictionary, from Merriam-Webster, an Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
  32. ^ Chambers 21st Century Dictionary. London: Chambers Harrap, 2001.
  33. ^ Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, online edition.
  34. ^ The American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin Company. 2005.
  35. ^ "abortion."Dictionary of World Philosophy. London: Routledge, 2001.
  36. ^ Garner, Bryan A. (June 2009). Black's Law Dictionary (9th ed.). Thomson West. ISBN 9780314199492.
  37. ^ "Abortion (pregnancy)". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  38. ^ "Abortion". The Columbia Encyclopedia. New York: Columbia University Press. 2008.
  39. ^ "Abortion". World Encyclopedia, Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. 2008.
  40. ^ "Abortion and miscarriage". The Royal Society of Medicine Health Encyclopedia. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. 2000.
  41. ^ "Abortion". Encyclopedia of Human Rights Issues since 1945 (1 ed.). Santa Barbara, California: Routledge. 1999. ISBN 978-1579581664.
  42. ^ Warren, M. A. "On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion". Monist 57:1 (1973): 43-61. Reprinted in Mappes and DeGrazia 2001: 456-463.
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