An abortion clinic is a medical facility that performs or specializes in abortions. Such clinics may be public medical centers or private medical practices. Planned Parenthood, whose clinics offer abortions as well as other reproductive care and counseling, is the largest operator of abortion clinics in the United States.

The first Dutch abortion clinic (the Mildredhuis in Arnhem) opened on February 27, 1971.

Contents 1 Attacks on abortion clinics 2 Other terms 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Attacks on abortion clinics

Because of the controversial nature of abortion in many countries, including the United States, pro-life advocates often protest abortion clinics through picketing, or other means such as holding vigils, although some have resorted to terrorism tactics such as arson or bombings to prevent people from using these facilities. Over a fifteen year period there have been 167 attacks on abortion clinics of one form or another. The amount of anti-abortion related violence peaked in 2003.^[1]

In the U.S., violence directed toward abortion providers has claimed the lives of 8 people, including 4 doctors, 2 clinic employees, a security guard, and a clinic escort. These are:

• Dr. David Gunn
• Dr. John Britton and James Barrett
• Shannon Lowney and Leanne Nichols
• Police Officer Robert Sanderson, killed by future Centennial Olympic bomber Eric Robert Rudolph
• Dr. Barnett Slepian
• Dr. George Tiller

A fifth doctor, George Patterson, was shot in Mobile, Alabama on August 21, 1993, but it is uncertain whether his death was the direct result of his profession or rather a robbery.^[1]

[edit] Other terms

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008)

Because of the controversial nature of abortion, a number of alternative terms for "abortion clinic" have arisen from both sides of the abortion debate. Those opposed to legal abortion sometimes pejoratively refer to abortion clinics as "abortuaries" (a portmanteau of "abortion" and "mortuary") or "abortion mills", while supporters of legal abortion and abortion clinics themselves often use the title "women's clinic".

[edit] References

• Robinson, B.A. (2004). "Violence at US Abortion Clinics" (HTML). http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_viol.htm. Retrieved 2006-04-28. 
• "Abortion Laws". National Conference of State Legislatures. June 2008. http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/aborlaws.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-31. 

[edit] External links

• Abortion.com – Online directory of U.S. abortion clinics
• Abortion clinic violence – MSNBC report on violent incidents
• Links to Abortion Clinics Worldwide
• AmericanWomensServices.com – Clinics in the northeast United States
• Abortion Clinics OnLine – Abortion clinic websites in the US

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