Legal Definitions - abortion

Abortion is the voluntary or artificially induced termination of a pregnancy to destroy an embryo or fetus. Following the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022), abortion is no longer considered a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution. This ruling allows individual states to regulate or ban abortion, subject to a strong presumption of validity when challenged.

Abortion refers to the intentional and medically induced termination of a pregnancy, which results in the ending of the life of an embryo or fetus.

• Example 1: Sarah, in the early weeks of her pregnancy, decided that she was not ready to become a parent. After consulting with a healthcare provider, she underwent a medical procedure to end the pregnancy.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates abortion as the deliberate and medically assisted termination of a pregnancy at an early stage, aligning with the definition of an intentional and induced ending of an embryo's development.

• Example 2: During a routine prenatal check-up in her second trimester, Maria received news that the fetus had a severe medical condition incompatible with life outside the womb. After careful consideration and discussion with her doctors, Maria chose to have a procedure to terminate the pregnancy.

  Explanation: Here, abortion is demonstrated as the intentional termination of a pregnancy due to significant medical factors affecting the fetus. Despite the different circumstances and later stage, it still involves a medically induced ending of the pregnancy, resulting in the termination of the fetus.

• Example 3: Emily lives in a state with strict laws regarding abortion access. Upon discovering she was pregnant and deciding to terminate, she traveled to a neighboring state where abortion services were more readily available. There, she received the necessary medical care to end her pregnancy.

  Explanation: This example highlights that abortion, as a medical procedure, involves the intentional termination of a pregnancy, regardless of the specific legal restrictions or geographical challenges a person might face in accessing it. The core act of medically ending the pregnancy remains consistent with the definition.