The deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, or more generally, the failure of a plan or process to come to fruition.
From Latin 'abortio' meaning 'miscarriage', from 'aboriri' meaning 'to miscarry', composed of 'ab-' (away) + 'oriri' (to arise, be born). The medical sense predates the general 'failure' sense.
The word shares its root with 'abort' in space missions - when NASA 'aborts' a launch, they're using the same concept of stopping something before it reaches its intended completion.
Abortion discourse is historically shaped by gatekeeping of reproductive autonomy from pregnant people, predominantly women. Medical terminology long centered physician authority over patient experience.
Center pregnant person autonomy and bodily integrity. Use 'pregnant person' or specific terms rather than abstractions that erase the embodied subject.
["pregnancy termination","reproductive choice","pregnancy decision"]
Women physicians and reproductive rights advocates—from Dr. Harriet Stopes-Roe to contemporary Black women doctors—have reclaimed medical authority over reproductive care, centering patient voice and bodily autonomy.
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