What term refers to the voluntary termination of a pregnancy before 24 weeks?

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

Answer: (B)

The concept here is naming terminations by the reason or condition under which they occur. The term that specifically means a voluntary termination of pregnancy at the patient’s request before viability is elective abortion. This label emphasizes that the termination is chosen for non-medical reasons rather than being required for health reasons, and it is typically considered before the point at which the fetus could survive outside the uterus (before about 24 weeks, depending on definitions).

Induced abortion is a broader term for terminating a pregnancy by medical or surgical means, and it doesn’t by itself specify whether the termination is voluntary or medically indicated. Late term abortion refers to termination at a later gestational age, past the early pre-viability period, which isn’t what’s described here. Therapeutic abortion denotes termination due to medical reasons to protect the health of the mother or fetus, not voluntary choice.