What term refers to the termination of pregnancy intentionally caused by the mother or other persons?

• A. Induced abortion
• B. Elective abortion
• C. Late term abortion
• D. Therapeutic Abortion

Answer: (A)

Induced abortion is the term for termination of pregnancy that is intentionally caused by the pregnant person or another person, using medical or surgical means. This encompasses any deliberate ending of a pregnancy, regardless of the motivation. It’s different from spontaneous abortion, which is a miscarriage that occurs without intentional intervention. The other terms describe more specific situations: elective abortion is a type of induced abortion carried out for nonmedical, personal reasons; therapeutic abortion refers to an induced termination performed to protect the mother’s life or health or due to fetal anomalies; late-term abortion is not a precise clinical category but rather a description of the gestational timing. Because the description specifies intentional termination by the mother or others, the broad, encompassing term induced abortion best fits.