January 10, 2018 – (PRESS RELEASE) Despite five months of accurately responding to every request for information from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), last week Whole Woman’s Health Alliance (WWHA) was denied its request for a license to open a clinic providing quality abortion care to women in the South Bend community. The ISDH denial did not have substantive merit and it seems the Department is confused about the facts.
Amy Hagstrom Miller, president and CEO of Whole Woman’s Health Alliance, a non-profit organization, announced in October 2017 her latest endeavor to open a new women’s health clinic that will provide quality abortion care in South Bend, Indiana.
According to ISDH, Whole Woman’s Health Alliance has until January 23, 2018 to file an administrative appeal with the Department.
“We are determined to move forward and we are committed to offering high quality care in South Bend,” said Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder and CEO of Whole Woman’s Health Alliance. “For nearly 5 months, we have complied with every single request from the ISDH and have worked directly with them to ensure that we would soon be able to provide quality care to the women and families of South Bend. The ISDH’s denial of our application is very unfortunate, and we are disappointed by what seems to be a misunderstanding on their part. We will absolutely appeal this decision and we look forward to clarifying the misinformation and moving forward without additional delays. Whole Woman’s Health Alliance remains committed to providing the care that this community deserves. We should not forget that good women have abortions – and the women of South Bend deserve access to compassionate, quality abortion care.”
“I have lived and worked in underserved communities my entire life,” said Ed Liptrap, candidate for State Senate, District 11. “I wholeheartedly believe that when we limit people’s medical options for non-scientific reasons, there are long-term catastrophic consequences, including undermining trust in our government and medical professionals. With those experiences in mind, I find the Indiana State Department of Health’s decision to deny a license to Whole Woman’s Health [Alliance] disheartening. Making abortion care available only to those who can afford to take time off work to travel to another city will disproportionately affect our already underserved communities.”
“As a professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at a public university, I see every day what is at stake in my students’ abilities to get the reproductive care they need to lead empowered lives,” said Professor April Lidinsky, director and associate professor of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, IU of South Bend. South Bend is in dire need of women-centered health care that acknowledges the importance of women deciding whether and when they will become mothers. Every other direction women’s lives take hinges on reproductive justice. We need Whole Woman’s Health [Alliance] in South Bend for the good of ALL of us.”