[The evolution of ideas about therapeutic interruption of pregnancy]

The author has analysed 77 therapeutic terminations of pregnancy carried out at the C.H.U. in Toulouse between 1959 and 1973. He concludes that ideas about the indications for therapeutic termination of pregnancy should be completely revised under the pressure of change in medical knowledge and in philosophical attitudes. He points out the danger of becoming tied up in this matter in too rigid a framework. He emphasizes that therapeutic abortion is just another variety of induced abortion and like the latter it carries many immediate and late risks.