Planned Parenthood announced that it will open a mobile abortion clinic in southern Illinois to serve patients from neighboring states that have banned abortions.
Three states that border Illinois — Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee — have banned abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June.
These bans have led to a flood of women seeking abortions in nearby Illinois, according to Planned Parenthood.
At the organization’s Fairview Heights Center, just 20 miles (20 miles) from the Illinois-Missouri border, abortion-seeking patients surged 30 percent since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Wait times for appointments have also increased from four days for him to two and a half weeks, Planned Parenthood said.
Planned Parenthood says “getting abortion care on the street helps reduce travel distances” and frees up space in brick-and-mortar stores.
Dr. Colleen McNicholas, Chief Medical Officer for Family Planning for the St. Louis Area and Southwest Missouri, said: statement. “Planned Parenthood is proud to bring creative solutions to an unjust healthcare system and do our best to depoliticize the decisions that should be left between healthcare providers and patients. .”
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Stacy Smith, CEO of pro-life group Sidewalk Advocates, said her organization was “incredibly disappointed” when she saw Planned Parenthood “trying to maintain its profits by offering mobile abortions.” Told.
“This expansion takes advantage of at-risk pregnant women in states that currently protect unborn babies and their mothers from the tragedy of abortion,” Smith said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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The new mobile abortion center will be equipped with two examination rooms, a lab, and an RV waiting room.
Initially, it will only offer medical abortions up to 11 weeks’ gestation, but will eventually offer surgical abortions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.