All-Trimester Abortion Clinic Prepares to Open in Maryland
An ob-gyn and nurse-midwife are gearing up to open an all-trimester abortion clinic near Washington, D.C. This new facility, Partners in Abortion Care, aims to provide abortions later in pregnancy and serve women from states with bans. When it opens sometime after Labor Day, Partners in Abortion Care will be one of only a handful of clinics in the United States that offer abortions into the third trimester — in this case, up to 34 weeks' gestation. A full-term pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks.
Responding to National Abortion Bans
The clinic expects to treat an influx of patients coming north from states with abortion bans enacted after the Supreme Court decision in June that overturned Roe v. Wade. Regarding the necessity of such care, Dr. Diane Horvath, an obstetrician-gynecologist and co-owner of the upcoming clinic, states that all-trimester abortion care "is a really politicized topic, and it shouldn't be." She further explains, "Every time we draw a line and we say 'no more abortions after this point,' someone's going to fall on the other side of that line, and they're going to be harmed."
Rehoming Equipment and Resources
The equipment in the moving truck has come full circle. The Maryland clinic bought all of it second-hand from a clinic in Savannah, Ga., that shut down in June after 40 years providing abortions. It was one of many facilities that either shut down or stopped offering abortion services in states with bans enacted after Roe was overturned. While Georgia now bans most abortions after about six weeks, Maryland provides a different environment. As they watch volunteers move the equipment into their office space, Horvath tears up and embraces her business partner, Morgan Nuzzo, a certified nurse-midwife. "I was thinking about how Georgia lost access to abortion, like, this week. And we're getting this equipment from them," Horvath says. "So — it feels very heavy."
Legal Context in Maryland
By contrast, Maryland has liberal abortion laws, and in July a law took effect that further expands abortion access. Now, along with physicians, qualified health providers including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and midwives are allowed to perform abortions. The clinic is currently being outfitted with essential tools, including an ultrasound machine, recovery room chairs, patient gowns, and boxes upon boxes of medical instruments and equipment.
Clinic Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Clinic Name | Partners in Abortion Care |
| Location | College Park, Md., outside Washington, D.C. |
| Service Scope | All-trimester abortion care (up to 34 weeks' gestation) |
| Key Personnel | Dr. Diane Horvath (Ob-Gyn) and Morgan Nuzzo (Nurse-Midwife) |