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the media, was broadcast nationally and internationally. Many people felt that the girl should be allowed to have an abortion in spite of the laws prohibiting it. Because she had been raped, they argued, an exception should be made. Lawyers, however, continued to argue the case in court. Eventually, the Irish High Court ruled that Karla had no legal right to end her pregnancy. Instead, they decided that the rights of her unborn baby had to be protected. The Irish police telephoned the girl’s family in London and

Words to Understand in This Chapter

abortion— the termination of a pregnancy with the death of the embryo or fetus. conception— the process of becoming pregnant involving fertilization or implanta- tion or both. confidential— secret or private. contraception— things that are done to prevent a woman from becoming preg- nant. embryo— the developing human individual from the time of implantation to the end of the eighth week after conception. fetus— a developing human from usually eight weeks after conception to birth. gestation— the time when a person is developing inside its mother before it is born; also, the process of development that happens during this time. induce— to cause something to happen. miscarriage— a condition in which a pregnancy ends too early—especially between the 12th and 28th week of gestation—and does not result in the birth of a live baby. pro-choice— believing that pregnant women should have the right to choose to have an abortion. pro-life— opposed to abortion.

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Abortion