Title: Medical indications for pregnancy interruption.

POPLINE Document Number: 797179

Author(s):

Messer RH

Source citation:

In: Zatuchni GI, Sciarra JJ, Speidel JJ, eds. Pregnancy termination: procedures, safety, and new developments. Hagerstown, Maryland, Harper and Row, 1979. :303-11. (PARFR Series on Fertility Regulation)

Abstract:

Current legislation restricting state and federal funding for abortion means that medical conditions possibly resulting in death or "severe and long lasting physical health damage" must be reassessed at this time for those cases in which public funding is involved. If abortion is designed to prevent maternal death, it is helpful to review indirect but primary causes of maternal mortality from recent years, before changes in abortion laws. Under restrictive legislation, abortions for medical reasons were not often performed. Although some of the indications were more common, a wide variety of reasons existed. The need to interrupt pregnancy because of heart disease has diminished in recent years. The most significant endocrine disease during pregnancy is diabetes, but with modern management maternal mortality is rare and the perinatal statistics are good. Tuberculosis is no longer considered an indication for abortion. Hematologic disease of some types contribute to maternal mortality. Sicke cell disease and S-C hemoglobin disease are associated with increased mortality during pregnancy. Inflammatory bowel disease usually does not change the course of pregnancy, but there is an increased rate of relapse postpartum. Data regarding maternal cancer show that it was a significant cause of pregnancy termination. The majority of cancer cases were breast cancer. Maternal neural tube defect may be severe enough to consider pregnancy termination. If the mortality statistics are to be believed, the treatment of suicide cannot often be used as justification for pregnancy termination.

Keywords:

United States
Abortion
Funds
Pregnancy Complications
Maternal Mortality
North America
Americas
Developed Countries
Fertility Control, Postconception
Family Planning
Financial Activities
Economic Factors
Diseases
Mortality
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population