Whole Woman's Health of South Bend officially open offering first abortion service since 2015

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- South Bend has not had an abortion clinic since 2015 and now Whole Woman’s Health Alliance is making history.

“It’s been a long haul. We have began answering phones today, and we’re booking appointments for next week," said President and CEO of Whole Woman's Health, Amy Hagstrom Miller.

They’ll be offering an abortion pill despite challenges from the community and even the state, among many other procedures and services.

“We are delighted to be protected by the injunction that we won a couple weeks ago and we’ve lined up our physicians and have everything in order to go ahead and serve people in our community," said Hagstrom Miller. 

It’s that exact option that is stirring up concern among pro-life community members.

“This clinic being open is going to results in hundreds of deaths of unborn humans and it’s going to be dangerous for the women in our community," said St. Joseph Right to Life Executive Director, Jackie Appleman. 

Appleman is concerned Whole Woman's Health will be operating without a clinical license—leaving them without the need for a routine inspection.

“The cleanliness, the way the drugs are monitored and dispensed, the parental consent laws, all of these things aren’t subject to inspection to see if they’re complaint or not," said Appleman.

But Hagstrom Miller says that’s just not the case.

“All our physicians are licensed, our laboratory services will be overseen by CLIA, we will abide by OSHA standards and all of those regular medical licensing standards that you find in all outpatient doctor facilities will also apply here," said Hagstrom Miller. "High quality abortion care services are a necessary and valuable service in a community and just because there’s not a clinic doesn’t mean the people in the community don’t need those services.”