This is terrible news.
Women’s Health Care Services Inc., where Dr. George Tiller performed abortions before he was murdered last Sunday, will close permanently, according to his family.
Dr. Warren Hern, one of the few remaining doctors in the country who performs late-term abortions, said the closure of the clinic was an “outrage” and he feels the loss for Dr. Tiller’s family and the patients he served. “How tragic, how tragic,” Hern said when contacted by phone at his Boulder, Colo., clinic. “This is what they want, they’ve been wanting this for 35 years.”
Indeed.
FUCK. Of course the murderers are going to see this as a win. I so wish there was a way to keep the clinic open, but I simply don’t see how–there are so few doctors who perform this kind of procedure, and you couldn’t blame them for not wanting to work out of this clinic given what happened.
Terrorism is…terrifying.
Please spread the word about the vigil for Dr Tiller here in Denver this Thursday June 11th at Temple Emanuel, 51 Grape Street at 530pm, not only as a show of support for Dr Tiller’s life and work but also for those (like Dr Hern) who continue to assist provide legal options for women who need it.
I’ll just echo BeckySharper’s eloquent response. FUCK.
I’m afraid it “worked” so well that Dr. Hern now has an even bigger target on his back. There are hundreds and thousands of anti-choice loonies, but it only takes one to act out.
If you look up terrorism in the dictionary, it should have Scott Roeder’s picture next to the definition. This is a gut-wrenching development.
And Dr. Hern is in his seventies anyway, as is the other of the three (now two) 3rd trimester providers in the country. It all leaves me on edge.
Every single time I read this news, I feel sick. Absolutely sick. How dare these terrorists win through murder.
There needs to be funding put into programs to teach gynecologists how to perform the procedures Dr. Tiller performed, and seminars explaining their vital importance.
And then more funding needs to go into protection for these clinics, and the individuals working at them.
I hope this doesn’t come across as sounding insensitive, drawing a correlation between a literary figure and a real-life hero like Dr. Tiller… But did anyone else feel a little like the end of “The Cider House Rules” about all of this? Dr. Larch is dead after years of threats and harassment, but in real life there’s no Homer Wells to step in and take up his mantle…
That is pretty sick. You’d think that the death of the doctor was punishment enough for everyone. It’s almost like adding insult to injury.
Oh, hell. It’s not unexpected, given the circumstances — who would they get to replace Tiller, when he was one of the few doctors with the skill, experience, and willingness to perform late-term abortions? I agree with Magnetic Crow: there needs to be more funding going into this sector of healthcare. I’ve been giving what I can spare to Medical Students For Choice in the hope that it will make a positive difference in the future….
Dr. Carhart (one of the remaining two) wanted to step in to Tiller’s shoes… But the family decided to close the clinic. I couldn’t understand this until I saw a line that basically hinted that other family members had worked there as well… So basically they don’t want to keep going there. So I can’t blame them. But it still hurts, doesn’t it.
And to add insult to injury, “Operation Rescue president Troy Newman said that his group has discussed the idea of buying the tan, windowless clinic in east Wichita. He made the comment after the Tiller family announced that the clinic would be closed permanently.”
Seriously? Why does this group still get any space at all from the media? (Note, I’ve just quoted, thereby granting additional space…)
Damn sad day.