Discontinuation of pregnancy in obstetric practice: therapeutic resource versus provoked abortion/Las interrupciones del embarazo en la practica obstetrica: recurso terapeutico vs aborto provocado/As interrupcoes da gravidez na pratica obstetrica: recurso terapeutico vs aborto provocado

The issue of induced abortion, in general, and the called therapeutic abortion in particular, has generated a lot of concern for both the medical profession, as well as for all society. They involve important values for individuals and for the entire population. There is much confusion about the terms used to nominate the various actions that the obstetricians decide to implement in clinical situations that their patients present. This paper aims to clarify which pregnancy interruptions are not only permissible but obligatory actions to a doctor, and correspond to the goals of medicine, and which of them are really induced abortions. To do so, the purpose of the medical profession is analyzed and to whom the health professional should always provide their care. Performs a reflection on the difference between concept, criteria, and signs to distinguish them when talking about fetal viability and induced abortion. From that perspective, establishes the concept of induced abortion, seeking its necessary features and avoiding confusion with the criteria and signs used to recognize this reality in a particular case. Finally, follows which are the criteria and signs of a termination of pregnancy in agreement with the values of medicine. Key words: medical ethics, induced abortion, pregnancy interruption, therapeutic abortion En el tema del aborto provocado, en general, y del aborto llamado "terapeutico" en particular, se involucran valores importantes para los individuos y para toda la poblacion. Existe mucha confusion respecto de los terminos empleados para nominar las distintas acciones que los medicos obstetras deciden realizar en las situaciones clinicas que presentan sus pacientes. Este trabajo pretende precisar cuales interrupciones de un embarazo corresponden a acciones no solamente licitas sino obligatorias para un medico, por corresponder a los fines de la medicina, y cuales son abortos provocados. Para ello se analiza el fin de la profesion medica y a quienes debe el profesional de la salud otorgar siempre sus cuidados. Realiza una reflexion sobre la diferencia entre concepto, criterios y signos para distinguirlos cuando hablamos de viabilidad fetal y de aborto provocado. Desde esa perspectiva, establece el concepto de aborto provocado, buscando sus rasgos necesarios y evitando la confusion con los criterios y signos utilizados para reconocer esa realidad en un caso particular. Finalmente, deduce los criterios y signos de una interrupcion de un embaraz