Definition of Abortion From Medical Dictionary Teaching |
Abortion a Definition: In medicine, the definition of an abortion is the premature exit of the products of conception (the fetus, fetal membranes, and placenta) from the uterus. It is the loss of a pregnancy and does not refer to why that pregnancy was lost.
A spontaneous abortion is the same as a miscarriage. The miscarriage of 3 or more consecutive pregnancies is termed habitual abortion.
Define Abortion by Medical Definition
Abortion by definition is not new in human society. Abortion is the taking of life in the mothers womb. The medical definition is provided above. The Biblical definition is simply the killing of a baby inside a mothers womb, and a violation of Thou Shalt Not Kill.Abortion is one of the most difficult, controversial, and painful subjects in modern society. The principal controversy revolves around the questions of who makes the decision concerning abortion, the individual or the state; under what circumstances it may be done; and who is capable of making the decision. Medical questions such as techniques of abortion are less controversial but are sometimes part of the larger debate.
Abortion is not new in human society; a study by the anthropologist George Devereux, showed that more than 300 contemporary human nonindustrial societies practiced abortion. Women have performed abortions on themselves or experienced abortions at the hands of others for thousands of years and abortions continue to occur today in developing areas under medically primitive conditions. However, modern technology and social change have made abortion a part of modern health care. At the same time, abortion has become a political issue in some societies and a flash point for disagreements about the role of women and individual autonomy in life decisions.
The Legal Definition of an Abortion of a Baby
The legal definition of abortion has been influenced greatly by the church, and in the past 2 centuries, the by definition abortion has been considered to be murder, and therefore universally banned by Christian countries influenced by the English Common Law, and by other Christian countries as well. The simple taking of life in the womb for any reason violated one of the Ten Commandments, Thou Shalt Not Kill. Throughout history, attitudes towards abortion have been influenced by religious beliefs, social motives, and attitudes towards women and the family. Recently, they have increasingly been affected by technological advances as well, including both simpler and safer abortion techniques and improved techniques for understanding fetal development.Historically, our abortion law is modeled on the English approach, also referred as English Common Law. Until the nineteenth century, abortion was a common-law offense and was criminal only if it occurred after "quickening." This was consistent with classical approaches and probably had the additional virtue of minimizing the evidentiary problems in proving pregnancy. The actual time of quickening or being "quick with child," has always been an arbitrary one, but it is usually taken to be when the mother herself feels or thinks she feels movement (this can vary from the sixteenth to the twentieth week) or when somebody examining her can feel or see some movement.
The law on criminal abortion was first codified in England in 1803, when the abortion of a quick fetus became a capital offense, while abortions performed prior to quickening incurred lesser penalties. In 1837, the distinction as to quickening was dropped, together with the death penalty. In 1861, the still current Offences Against the Person Act was passed, making clear for the first time that a women procuring her own abortion was also guilty of a crime.
The first Canadian criminal law on abortion was passed in 1869. It incorporated per-Confederation provincial statutes, and provided for a penalty of life imprisonment for the person procuring the miscarriage. While such statutes reflected societal and religious objectives of protecting the fetus, they were also influenced by concerns about the mother's health. Nineteenth century abortions were medically dangerous and, in a less regulated society with little concept of health care programs, often performed by non-physicians.
Because the 1861 British legislation prohibiting abortion made no provisions for the mother's life or health, it was increasingly challenged by the medical and legal communities. In 1938, the British Medical Association set up a special committee to consider the medical aspects of abortion. It recommended that the law be revised to allow for some therapeutic abortions.
Abortion Law US Supreme Court Roe vs Wade
As abortion gradually became decriminalized, in the 1960s and after, the first legal regimes dealt with indicators, the presence of which would permit an abortion. This approach has been described as "indication-regulation." Generally, the indicators for abortion broke down into five categories: danger to life; danger to health (physical or mental); eugenic (fetal distress); criminological or juridical (rape and incest); and socio-economic. Various countries decided that various indicators were sufficient for a legal abortion, but the continuum of indicators is usually taken.Decriminalized was greatly expanded by the famous US Supreme Court Ruling, of Roe vs. Wade.
In 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States delivered its judgment in Roe v. Wade. The Court held that, while the fetus was not a "person" entitled to independent constitutional protection, the state did have an interest in protecting potential life. It said that during the first trimester, when abortion is less hazardous to a woman's health than carrying a child to term, the state could only require that a licensed physician perform the medical procedure. During the second trimester, the state had a compelling interest in protecting the mother's health, and could regulate her access to abortion procedures in her own interest. (It is this concept of the right of the state to protect maternal health that has generated some of the fiercest legal battles in the past decade or two in the United States.) During the third trimester, the Court ruled that the interest of the state in preserving the fetus became compelling. This argument is largely based on the premise that at this point the fetus becomes viable, but the logic has not gone unchallenged by either the pro-choice or the anti-abortion movement.
Approaches to abortion law were greatly influenced by the thalidomide tragedy of the 1960s, and most modern abortion law is based on indication-regulation, time-regulation (as approved in Roe v. Wade), or a combination of the two. Where time-regulation is concerned, the importance of the state concern in protecting the fetus normally increases dramatically as the chance of independent existence for the fetus increases. Viability, however, is a concern only when considering the balance between the interest of the state in protecting the fetus and the rights of the mother. Neither the pro-life nor the pro-choice movement considers viability to be an issue in terms of protecting independent fetal rights.
Other aspects of federal jurisdiction may also apply to health-related issues, although the boundaries are generally less clear than in the case of the criminal law. If a national emergency arose, such as an epidemic, the peace, order and good government power might well allow federal action. A serious problem that attained a national dimension, such as air pollution, might similarly give the federal government the authority to enact health-related legislation. As well, the federal government can regulate health matters in areas already under its specific jurisdiction, such as penitentiaries or the military.
The Republicans on Abortion
Republican Candidates for president in 2012 shares similar views on abortion. My own pro-life views were strengthened by my experiences as an obstetrician. I believe beyond a doubt that a fetus is a human life deserving of legal protection, and that the right to life is the foundation of any moral society. The abortion issue forged my belief that law and morality must intersect to protect the most vulnerable among us. The proper role of government, namely the protection of natural and constitutional rights, flows from the pro-life perspective. Republicans need to take a stand.Morality is inherent in law, no matter what the secularists might say. But morality is not inherent in politics. As law professor Butler Shaffer explains, politics is about obtaining power over the lives of others through government force. Thus politics is a rejection of the sanctity of life. So it is a mistake to assume that a pro-life culture develops through political persuasion or government power. Respect for human life originates with individuals acting according to their consciences. A pro-life conscience is fostered by religion, family, and ethics, not government. History teaches us that governments overwhelmingly violate the sanctity of human life rather than uphold it. For bumper stickers and yard sign, see below info. The notion that an all-powerful, centralized state should provide monolithic solutions to the ethical dilemmas of our times is not only misguided, but also contrary to our Constitution. Remember, federalism was established to allow decentralized, local decision making by states. Yet modern America seeks a federal solution for every perceived societal ill, ignoring constitutional limits on government. The result is a federal state that increasingly makes all-or-nothing decisions that alienate large segments of the population. So what is the news media conspiracy about? Republican where are you.
Pro Life Yard Signs
We propose posting a pro life yard sign in your yard that says that you are Pro-Life. Our neighbors, our law-makers, and – in a special, loving way – a woman who might be feeling trapped with an unplanned pregnancy all need to hear the Pro-Life Life political custom sign message. We think and feel so strongly Pro-Life, and we want them to see the message of Love and Hope and Healthy Change, which is the message of life! Yard Signs make a powerful statement that your household stands publicly for life. cheap Custom Yard Signs Displaying a pro-life yard sign is a bit unusual. But why not? Many of us display signs for political candidates. Why should we hesitate to show our pro-life colors? yard signs buy political cheap or Anti-Abortion Yard Signs And at Saturday’s Faith and Freedom Coalition banquet in Des Moines, Iowa, Rick Perry took a clear jab at Cain (though without naming him personally), with this remark: “It is a liberal canard to say I am personally pro-life but government should stay out of that decision. If that is your view, you are not pro-life, you are pro having your cake and eating it too.” More intriguing, CNN reported that an anonymous leaflet was distributed on car windshields outside the banquet, saying “Herman Cain threw the babies under the bus,” and quoting Cain’s remarks from the CNN interview: “It ultimately gets down to a choice that that family or that mother has to make.”
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