abortion

when writing about abortion, double-check your information for accuracy—some is slanted, cherry-picked, or false. Never describe a miscarriage as an abortion. Roe v. Wade, which includes a phrase protecting the health of the woman, as well as access to abortion, is under serious attack, undercutting people's right to decide what happens to their bodies. Since birth control, emergency contraception, and sex education all reduce the number of abortions, opponents of Roe v. Wade seem not to care so much about abortion as about controlling people's bodies. According to the CDC, “Approximately 700 women die in the United States each year as a result of pregnancy or its complications, and significant racial/ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related mortality exist." The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says "many more women would die each year if they did not have access to abortion to protect their health or to save their lives." The ACOG policy position states, “Induced abortion is an essential component of women’s health care. Like all medical matters, decisions regarding abortion should be made by patients in consultation with their health care providers and without undue interference by outside parties. Like all patients, women obtaining abortion are entitled to privacy, dignity, respect, and support.” See also anti-abortion, contraception, pro-choice, pro-life, reproductive rights.