The Boulder Abortion Clinic, run by Dr. Warren Hern, specializes in second- and third-trimester abortions, which are controversial due to the political debate surrounding the issue. Only about 1% of abortions are performed after 21 weeks, with the majority occurring during the first trimester. Hern performs abortions in extreme medical emergencies and only in a hospital setting. Patients at the clinic often come from red states with strict abortion bans, seeking help in cases where the pregnancy has gone wrong or due to medical emergencies. One couple, Emma and Stewart, traveled to Colorado from Texas to have an abortion after receiving a devastating fetal anomaly diagnosis. The couple’s loss led to the birth of their son, Louie, who they consider a miracle. The couple’s experience highlighted the limitations and dangers of abortion bans and exceptions. Not all patients at the clinic have the same experience; some, like Willow, face challenges accessing abortion services due to delays in care or strict regulations on gestational age. The potential criminalization of abortion in the US following the overturning of Roe v. Wade is seen as a national catastrophe for women, making access to safe and timely abortion care more difficult, expensive, and emotionally stressful.
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Emotions of Anguish, Gratitude, and Fear in a Colorado Clinic for Late Abortions
