Dangerous Abortion Business Denied License to Open New Abortion Clinic in Indiana

State   |   Micaiah Bilger   |   Jan 10, 2018   |   3:42PM   |   South Bend, Indiana

An abortion business’s efforts to open a new facility in South Bend, Indiana stalled recently after state health officials denied it a license.

Indiana Right to Life learned about the license denial for the Whole Women’s Health Alliance abortion chain through a public records request this week.

“This is great news for women, unborn children and the South Bend community,” Indiana Right to Life President and CEO Mike Fichter said. “We applaud the state for its due diligence in this matter and thank the thousands of Hoosiers who made their voices heard.  We will remain vigilant in this matter should an appeal to the license denial be attempted.”

Late last year, pro-life advocates learned that the Texas-based abortion chain planned to open a new abortion facility in South Bend. Whole Women’s Health has a shoddy reputation, including dozens of health and safety violations at its Texas facilities.

Health inspection reports show numerous problems with sterilizing and disinfecting instruments that were used from woman to woman. The abortion chain also failed to provide a safe and sanitary environment at many of its Texas facilities, according to the state inspection reports. State inspectors also found rusty spots on suction machines that had the “likelihood to cause infection” and other issues that put women’s health in jeopardy.

These violations may have influenced Indiana state officials’ decision. According to the Indiana State Department of Health letter obtained by Indiana RTL, “Based upon the Department’s review, the Commissioner finds WWHA failed to meet the requirement that the Applicant is of reputable and responsible character and the supporting documentation provided inaccurate statements and information.”

The denial letter to WWHA also states that a person may not provide abortions unless holding a license issued by the state. This means, for now, South Bend will remain abortion-free.

Fichter said his pro-life group generated more than 36,000 emails from concerned citizens since the application first surfaced in October.

Female lawmakers and others also advocated against the new abortion facility. U.S. Congresswoman Jacki Walorski, a Republican from Indiana, sent a letter to the state department in October to express her concerns.

“Indiana and its leaders have worked hard to make meaningful strides to combat the rate of abortions within the state,” Walorski wrote. “These crucial gains in protecting the sanctity of life would be undermined should the application receive the state’s approval.”

Last year, the abortion chain applied for a license to open a new facility at 3511 Lincoln Way W., an old chiropractic clinic. Its plans are to provide first-trimester abortion drugs at the facility, according to the Tribune.

South Bend, the home of Notre Dame University, has not had an abortion facility since 2015 when abortionist Ulrich Klopfer was forced to close. He faced 1,833 alleged abortion violations, including failures to report rapes of teen girls to authorities.

In November, Cheryl Sullenger of Operation Rescue reported more:

The new proposed WWH location, located at 3511 Lincolnway West in South Bend, has a number of issues. The first facility license application submitted to the Indiana State Department of Health was denied because it was missing the name of the clinic administrator, as required for licensing in Indiana.

There may have been a slightly nefarious reason for omitting that tidbit of information.

Cathie Humbarger of Indiana Right to Life told Operation Rescue that a second license application submitted by WWH indicated that its South Bend clinic administrator will be Liam Morley, former clinic administrator from 2011 to 2015 for Klopfer’s now defunct South Bend abortion facility, Women’s Pavilion. Many of the sex abuse reporting failures took place under her administration. She also presided over a failed health inspection in October 2014, in which Klopfer’s abortion facility was cited for multiple health and safety violations. Eight months later, those violations were still not corrected, prompting the Indiana Department of Health to file a formal complaint against the facility that ultimately halted abortions there.