Abortion is one of the most controversial issues in the United States today. One out of every three pregnancies never come to term because a woman has an abortion (Flanders 3). It is understood that a new individual human begis growing in the mother's uterus at fertilization ("When Does Life Begin"). The term abortion refers to any premature expulsion of a human fetus. Approximately 93 percent of all induced abortions are done for elective, non-medical reasons. In 1973, the Supreme Court handed down Roe v. Wade ad Doe v. Bolton decisions legalizing abortion in all 50 states during all nine months of pregnancy, for any reason, medical, social, or otherwise (Abortion: Some Medical Facts). Other than spontaneous abortions, induced abortions include many different procedures, each with it's own risks, consequences, and results.
             A chemical abortion is only one of two methods for aborting a fetus. This method involves the injection of drugs or chemicals through the abdomen or cervix into the amniotic sac to cause death to the child and his or her expulsion from the uterus (Abortion: Some Medical Facts). Hypertonic saline, hypersomolar urea, and prostagladins are the most commonly used in the US, but RU 486, methotrexate are also being used.
             Hypertonic saline, otherwise known as "salt poisoning, saline amniocentesis, or salting out," is used after 16 weeks of pregnancy, when enough fluid has accumulated in the amniotic fluid sac surrounding the baby ("Abortion Methods Described"). A needle is inserted through the mother's abdomen and 50 to 250 ml of amniotic fluid is withdrawn and replaced with a solution of concentrated salt (Abortion: Some Medical Facts). The baby breathes in, swallowing the salt, and dies within an hour. The chemical solution also causes painful burning and deterioration of the baby's skin. The mother goes into labor about a day later and expels a dead, grotesque, sh...