ABORTION, PUBLIC-HEALTH POLICY, AND INFORMED CONSENT LEGISLATION

This article presents the historical and policy background for the articles comprising this volume on psychological perspectives on abortion. President Reagan brought new life to public health concerns about abortion. Although Surgeon General Koop concluded that the scientific evidence was inadequate to say whether abortion did or did not cause psychological harm, debate continues. This article describes this debate and the policy differences between pro-life and pro-choice advocates. "Right-to-know" (informed consent) legislation is presented as a case study of how policy based on inadequate and flawed research evidence will result in implementation problems.