I am dismayed and frustrated by the recent perpetuation of a nonsensical phrase without true medical meaning: “late-term abortion.” Late term refers to a pregnancy that has gone beyond a woman’s due date (40 weeks), most accurately 41-42 weeks. No abortions are being performed after a woman’s due date.
I would encourage readers to view the Feb. 1 “Facts Are Important — Abortion Care Later in Pregnancy” statement from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that helps provide a fact-based information sheet on this issue. Accurate terminology does matter when discussing complicated topics to avoid misunderstanding, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and to demonstrate effective communication.
