Read this interview

H/T Feministing

Dr. Wicklund says it better than I ever could.

I don't use the word lightly, but today's abortion providers: physicians, nurses, clinic coordinators and volunteers, are heroes. They certainly aren't in it for the money. Corrected for inflation, the cost of an abortion today is about half of what it was in 1973; in other words, the cost really hasn't changed (but is still is high enough to keep the procedure out of reach for many women, especially as the Hyde Amendment continues to prohibit the use of federal funds for abortion services unless the women's life is in danger).

And their numbers are dwindling; according to the National Abortion Federation 87% of US counties lack abortion providers, and that number jumps to 97% in non-metropolitan counties. Three US states also lack providers. The providers that do still practice often have to split their time between clinics, sometimes traveling hundreds of miles to provide the most common surgical procedure in the US.

Why so few clinics? Clinics face opposition from the moment they attempt to move into a town; even construction workers face intimidation, even though these clinics provide essential primary reproductive health care to both men and women.

Dr. Wicklund makes a point that is both compelling and courageous when she asserts that ob-gyns and family practice physicians have an obligation to provide abortion services as part of their services rather than referring them to a system of clinics that is overburdened, underfunded and so sparsely located that few women even have access to them.

While the work clinics do, both the clinical services they provide and their advocacy for womens' health, is necessary and important, placing the whole burden provision of abortion services squarely on their shoulders is undue. It increases their workload and makes them an easy target for anti-choice protesters.

So read the interview, then read the book (I plan to). Then, if you know an abortion provider, thank them for me.