LATE-TERM ABORTION

Recent proposed federal legislation banning certain abortion procedure s, particularly intact dilatation and extraction, would modify the US Criminal Code such that physicians performing these procedures would b e liable for monetary and statutory damages. Clarification of medical procedures is important because some of the procedures used to induce abortion prior to viability are identical or similar to postviability procedures. This article reviews the scientific and medical informatio n on late-term abortion and late-term abortion techniques and includes data on the prevalence of late-term abortion, abortion-related mortal ity and morbidity rates, and legal issues regarding fetal viability an d the balance of maternal and fetal interests. According to enacted Am erican Medical Association (AMA) policy, the use of appropriate medica l terminology is critical in defining late-term abortion procedures, p articularly intact dilatation and extraction, which is a variant of bu t distinct from dilatation and evacuation. The AMA recommends that the intact dilatation and extraction procedure not be used unless alterna tive procedures pose materially greater risk to the woman and that abo rtions not be performed in the third trimester except in cases of seri ous fetal anomalies incompatible with life. Major medical societies ar e urged to collaborate on clinical guidelines on late-term abortion te chniques and circumstances that conform to standards of good medical p ractice. More research on the advantages and disadvantages of specific abortion procedures would help physicians make informed choices about specific abortion procedures. Expanded ongoing data surveillance syst ems estimating the prevalence of abortion are also needed.