First of all, the term "partial birth abortion" was made up by the Pro-Life movement to apply to any late term abortion. These procedures are done only when something has gone dramatically wrong, and the life of the mother and the life of the fetus is in danger. If the mother dies, so does the fetus. This is a fact that has been admitted by the Pro-Life group that coined the term; they felt that it brought home the horrific nature of abortion. Now, as to the use of that procedure, medical ethicists are clear that it is inappropriate for termination of normal pregnancies, and the most used methods today are pharmacological, done at very early stages, and are nothing like the horror stories conjured up by anti-abortion forces. There are times, however, when this horrible procedure must be undertaken. That is the reason for taking a stance that says it should be legal. To criminalize the procedure would be condemning women to death without cause.