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Commentary| Volume 81, ISSUE 2, P93-96, February 2010

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Abortion jabberwocky: the need for better terminology

  • David A. Grimes
    Correspondence
    Corresponding author. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CB #7570, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7570, USA. Tel.: +1 919 544 7040x11541; fax: +1 919 544 7261.
    Affiliations
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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  • Gretchen Stuart
    Affiliations
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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      The contentious issue of abortion is riddled with jabberwocky���terminology that is contradictory, obsolete, ambiguous and misleading [
      • Friedman E.A.
      • Pennisi J.A.
      Eschew obfuscation.
      ]. Both the lay and professional literature uses obstetrical terms improperly, including ���abortion.��� Recent press coverage of Dr. George Tiller's murder has added to this confusion, with misleading language such as ���late-term��� abortion [ ].
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