Group Rallies Against UW's Plan To Perform Abortions
Protesters Gather At Madison Surgery Center
Updated: 7:56 pm CST January 8, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- Protesters came out Thursday morning to voice their opposition against the University of Wisconsin and Meriter Hospital after they announced plans this week to perform late-term abortions.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe rally, organized by Madison's Vigil For Life, gathered protesters in front of the Madison Surgery Center. The protesters' goal was to convince UW officials not to go through with these plans, which were made public on Tuesday.Steve Karlen, co-director of Madison's Vigil For Life, said that the university's plans were kept secret until this week."(My response was) just shock, really," he said. "It's hard to fathom, right in the heart of Madison, right in the heart of campus, to turn this into something like that and the questions of why was it kept secret. Why did they not come out to the public with the plans?"UW officials said there isn't a clinic in the area that provides second-trimester abortions and some of their physicians believe there is a public health responsibility to provide one.Earlier this week, UW Health spokeswoman Lisa Brunette said its gynecologists plan to begin performing abortions for patients who are 13 and 22 weeks pregnant. She said the plan needs final approval from the center's board, which could take action this month.Another group, the Alliance Defense Fund, publicized the school's plan and sent a letter asking UW officials to stop it.Brunette also said state-paid doctors would provide the services. She said the abortions themselves would be paid through insurance and patient fees, not with public money. She said that employees could opt out of performing the abortions should they object to it.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe rally, organized by Madison's Vigil For Life, gathered protesters in front of the Madison Surgery Center. The protesters' goal was to convince UW officials not to go through with these plans, which were made public on Tuesday.Steve Karlen, co-director of Madison's Vigil For Life, said that the university's plans were kept secret until this week."(My response was) just shock, really," he said. "It's hard to fathom, right in the heart of Madison, right in the heart of campus, to turn this into something like that and the questions of why was it kept secret. Why did they not come out to the public with the plans?"UW officials said there isn't a clinic in the area that provides second-trimester abortions and some of their physicians believe there is a public health responsibility to provide one.Earlier this week, UW Health spokeswoman Lisa Brunette said its gynecologists plan to begin performing abortions for patients who are 13 and 22 weeks pregnant. She said the plan needs final approval from the center's board, which could take action this month.Another group, the Alliance Defense Fund, publicized the school's plan and sent a letter asking UW officials to stop it.Brunette also said state-paid doctors would provide the services. She said the abortions themselves would be paid through insurance and patient fees, not with public money. She said that employees could opt out of performing the abortions should they object to it.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
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