Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • Other Publications
    • abfm

User menu

Search

  • Advanced search
American Board of Family Medicine
  • Other Publications
    • abfm
American Board of Family Medicine

American Board of Family Medicine

Advanced Search

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • JABFM On Twitter
  • JABFM On YouTube
  • JABFM On Facebook
Book ReviewBook Reviews

Abortion and Common Sense. By Ruth Dixon-Mueller and Paul KB Dagg. 298 pp. Philadelphia, Xlibris Corporation, 2002. $18.69 (paper). ISBN 1–4010-5954–6.

Kathryn M. Larsen
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice July 2003, 16 (4) 358; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.16.4.358
Kathryn M. Larsen
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

The abortion debate is often characterized by a passionate defense of rather narrowly focused moral, religious, and political beliefs. Broader social and health issues surrounding the abortion issue have typically received less attention despite that an estimated 600,000 women die annually from the complications of pregnancy (including unsafe abortion) and childbirth; and every year 100 million unwanted pregnancies occur. Abortion and Common Sense was written to address the practicalities of abortion and to expand discussion of the dilemmas faced by women considering an abortion, realizing all the while that common ground on this subject is probably unachievable.

The first part of the book provides an excellent review of current fertility practices, factors involved in making the abortion decision, descriptions of the abortion procedure, and the “myth of regret.” The discussions are balanced and well-researched, with global and culturally sensitive perspectives. The second half of the book probes several key issues within the public debate, including abortion and the law, abortion within the medical profession, and the politics of public policy.

The text is generally quite readable, and each chapter is supported by chapter notes and multiple references. A separate section details pro-choice organizations in both Canada and the United States, although there is no comparable section on pro-life organizations. Highlights include an historical review of abortion and comparison of privately versus publicly expressed opinions on abortion. The authors’ approach to abortion misconceptions through the use of test questions and evidence-based review of the answers is particularly helpful to the reader.

The family physician, resident, and medical student are all well served by this rigorous discussion of abortion, particularly related to health and safety issues. It takes the reader beyond emotionality and myths to appreciate the day-to-day practicalities of this important issue in women’s reproductive health. This book is an excellent educational choice for those on both sides of the abortion debate.

PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice: 16 (4)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
Vol. 16, Issue 4
1 Jul 2003
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Board of Family Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Abortion and Common Sense. By Ruth Dixon-Mueller and Paul KB Dagg. 298 pp. Philadelphia, Xlibris Corporation, 2002. $18.69 (paper). ISBN 1–4010-5954–6.
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Board of Family Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Board of Family Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
2 + 8 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Abortion and Common Sense. By Ruth Dixon-Mueller and Paul KB Dagg. 298 pp. Philadelphia, Xlibris Corporation, 2002. $18.69 (paper). ISBN 1–4010-5954–6.
Kathryn M. Larsen
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice Jul 2003, 16 (4) 358; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.16.4.358

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Abortion and Common Sense. By Ruth Dixon-Mueller and Paul KB Dagg. 298 pp. Philadelphia, Xlibris Corporation, 2002. $18.69 (paper). ISBN 1–4010-5954–6.
Kathryn M. Larsen
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice Jul 2003, 16 (4) 358; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.16.4.358
Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Medical Orthopedics: Conservative Management of Musculoskeletal Impairment. Edited by Rene Cailliet. 217 pp. Chicago, American Medical Association, 2003. $69.95 (paper). ISBN 1-57947-409-8.
  • Emergency Ophthalmology—A Rapid Treatment Guide. Edited by Kenneth Chern. 297 pp. New York, McGraw Hill Professional, 2003. $59.95. ISBN 007-137-325X.
  • Current Pediatric Diagnosis and Treatment. Sixteenth edition. Edited by William W. Hay, Jr, Anthony R. Hayward, Myron Levin, and Judith M. Sondheimer. 1415 pp. New York, McGraw Hill, 2003. $59.95. ISBN 0-07-121229-9.
Show more Book Reviews

Similar Articles

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues

Authors & Reviewers

  • Info For Authors
  • Info For Reviewers
  • Submit A Manuscript/Review

Other Services

  • Get Email Alerts
  • Classifieds
  • Reprints and Permissions

Other Resources

  • Forms
  • Contact Us
  • ABFM News

© 2023 American Board of Family Medicine

Powered by HighWire