Abortion

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Abortion is the expulsion of a foetus from the womb in order to end a pregnancy. This can be a consequence of the foetus no longer developing, or abortion itself can bring to an end its development. Abortion is often a natural process, i.e. miscarriage, but the term is more commonly used to refer to the termination of a pregnancy by artificial means, e.g. through surgery. Because the status of the foetus is controversial in philosophical and religious thought, abortion is typically a taboo subject, with states often imposing various legal restrictions on what many would see as a woman's right to decide for herself whether to continue the pregnancy.