There is a bit of a debate as to whether Hippocrates was anti-abortion or not. He specifically condemned a particular means of abortion, the debate is whether he meant to condemn all abortion and specifically mention that particular means because it was the common method, or if he was simply condemning that specific method because of the risks it posed for the mother.

It is also interesting to consider that in ancient Jewish law, if someone caused an accident that resulted in the death of another person, they were charged with murder. If someone caused an accident involving a pregnant woman that caused her to miscarry, they were not charged with murder.