Nebraska physician vows to keep Tiller's abortion clinic open

[babylonsister]

Huge props to these doctors and the staff for not being intimidated!


http://www.mcclatchydc.com/nation/story/69212.html

Nebraska physician vows to keep Tiller's abortion clinic open

By Stan Finger | Wichita Eagle


WICHITA, Kan. — Women's Health Care Services, the clinic that has been bombed, blockaded and vandalized for more than 20 years because late-term abortions are performed there, will be closed this week to mourn the slaying Sunday of founder George Tiller.

But the clinic will resume normal operations next Monday, said LeRoy Carhart, a Nebraska physician who has been coming to Tiller's clinic on a rotating basis for more than 10 years now.

snip//

Carhart said he drove to Wichita last night. He met with clinic staff members and Tiller's wife and daughters Monday morning.

"It was a really, really good meeting," Carhart said. "It was a chance to go over all the important things and the good things George had done for each of us, and ways that we could appreciate all that he's done for the community and the women of this country.

"His daughters and his wife are doing far better than I would be doing if I just lost my life partner or my mother or father," he said.

Patients who had appointments this week have been notified of the clinic's closing, and other arrangements have been made, Carhart said.

"Starting next Monday we should be back to 100 percent," he said.

Carhart said he and two other out-of-state doctors have been rotating weekly shifts at the clinic, and that will continue.

[BolivarianHero]

1. Why out of state?

Are doctors too conservative or too scared in KS?

[SoCalNative]

3. The DOCTOR is from Nebraska

and has been coming there FROM Nebraska for years:

What people need to know is... the women's services that we provided for 30 years are not going to change," Carhart said. "The same abortion services will remain available in Wichita."

[Hepburn]

12. My read on this is because of the Kansas law about having two opinions that...

...the last term abortion is a necessity. The second opinion MUST be from a totally independent MD. So, I would think that having an MD come from out of state would help with meeting the legal mandate for the independent second opinion.

[Kievan Rus]

2. They will need LOTS of security

It certainly takes courage to remain open in that kind of environment.

[Ocracoker16]

13. Hope Holder sent US Marshals as promised

The attorney general, Eric Holder, stated earlier today that there would be US Marshals sent to protect doctors and patients at womens health clinics that might be targeted by anti-abortion terrorists.

These people are brave to return to the center. Like Dr. Tiller, they believe that women have the right to have an abortion and that they shouldn't let these anti-abortion extremists keep them from doing the procedure.

[suffragette]

4. K&R to these doctors

and all the staff who risk so much to protect choice.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. I hope he and the clinic are well protected. Carhart recently received an award for his courage.

http://www.prch.org/physicians-reproductive-choice-and-health-honors-leroy-carhart-md-his-commitment-reproductive-rights

Dr. Rashbaum was my ob-gyn for 30 years, until his death in 2005. Never met a kinder, more gentle man in my life.
Still miss him..

http://www.prch.org/programs-william-k-rashbaum-md-abortion-provider-award

http://www.prch.org/leroy-carhart-md

[Taverner]

6. I'd bodyguard for him if in the area

[Critters2]

7. Wow. How remarkably brave.

And honorable.

[cali]

8. k&r. I love you Dr. Carhart. Please stay safe.

[eShirl]

9. Good! Don't let the terrorists win. n/t

[janet118]

10. Thank you, Dr. Carhart . . .

The goal of the violence against abortion clinics and doctors is to make choice less available to women. People like George Tiller and Leroy Carhart are heroes who will not let these terrorists win. Late term abortion is heartbreaking for the women who make that choice. To have to travel great distances and go through a gauntlet of monsters to receive medical help after they have come to their decision is unbearably cruel.

In a less macho and theocratic country, Tiller and Carhart and their like would be honored.

[renate]

11. that kind of bravery and dedication to their patients is incredibly touching

Very inspiring.