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Abortion

Definition

Abortion is a medical or surgical procedure that ends a pregnancy by removing an embryo or fetus before it can survive outside the uterus.

Analogy

Imagine you're building a house but halfway through construction, you realize there are major issues with its foundation. To avoid future problems, you might decide to halt construction entirely - this is similar to how abortion stops a pregnancy before full term.

Related terms

Pro-choice: The belief that individuals have the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion based on their personal beliefs or circumstances.

Pro-life: The belief that all human life, including unborn fetuses, has inherent value and should be protected from harm – including abortion.

Roe v. Wade: A landmark 1973 Supreme Court case which ruled that state laws restricting access to abortions during the first trimester were unconstitutional.



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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.