This article serves as the introduction to
a supplement that assembles various papers
concerning medical abortion. It addresses
different aspects of medical abortion,
approaching it from different perspectives
and examining the role it can play in
different contexts. For example, at the
conceptual level, medical abortion is said
to be changing how we understand and
interpret the WHO definition of unsafe
abortion. Studies are referenced which
show that outpatient medical abortion can
save public health services money. It is
suggested that expanding access to medical