What is an abortion? Abortion is the removal of an incompletely developed fetus from within the uterus. Abortion is a very controversial issue that is debated in the United States, as Robin Toner stated in the New York Times: “the abortion debate has been dismissed over the years. I am neither for nor against, but I believe that a woman should be able to make her own choice considering her circumstances. Statistics show that 4 out of 10 pregnancies are terminated with an abortion. Every year, 2% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 have an abortion. Those against abortion might say that the government should assume the right for the woman to decide whether to have an abortion or continue the pregnancy. Those in favor of abortion might say that the government should have no say in a woman's choice. Abortion is an issue that many people question whether or not it can be justified. Can taking the life of an unborn child be a good thing? The abortion debate is really a debate about human nature. Who are we to choose whether to end the life of an unborn human being? I think before I started writing this essay I would have only considered the negative side of this issue, given that abortion takes the life of a living human being, can it be justified? While abortions have been going on for many years. Abortion has been legal in the United States since 1973. On January 22, 1973, the Roe v. Wade of the United States Supreme Court, which overturned the Texas interpretation of abortion law in the United States, which guaranteed a woman's right to have a child. abortion. However, at the time only 15 US states provided medical coverage for abortion. This law allowed abortions to be performed only during the first trimester… midterm… lifetime. Works Cited "Abortion". Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Network. November 9, 2013. Abortion bans without exceptions endanger women's health. " NARAL Pro-Choice America Fact Sheet. Vol. 1. 2012. Rpt. in Are Abortion Rights Threatened? Ed. Tamara L. Roleff. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. In Issue. “Abortion: Late/Partial Birth.” Issues current: Macmillan Social Science Library Detroit: Gale, 2010. Boonstra H et al., Abortion in Women's Lives, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2006.CHESLER, ELLEN. “New Options, New Politics.” New York: Macmillan USA reference, 2010.