A young woman in her first trimester of pregnancy goes to her doctor after experiencing heavy bleeding. After examining the woman and finding that she has miscarried, the doctor states that she has had a "spontaneous abortion.". The young woman becomes

very upset because her family believes that abortion is a sin. Explain the breakdown in communication that has occurred and how it could be corrected.

The patient does not understand the meaning of the term "spontaneous abortion." She does not realize that she has had a miscarriage. To her, "abortion" signifies the voluntary and deliberate termination of a pregnancy, an action that her family believes to be morally wrong. She may be wondering, "What did I do wrong? I didn't mean to have an abortion." The doctor needs to explain what has happened in everyday words and assure the patient that she has done nothing to cause the miscarriage and that she could not have prevented it.