Last Clinic Standing

Last Clinic Standing ' is a thoughtfully written article by Amanda Robb . She discusses the only Planned Parenthood abortion clinic left in South Dakota , putting it in the larger context of the heated abortion debate in that state . Abortions not necessary to save the life of the mother were banned on March 6 , 2006 . Robb looks at the abortion issue from both sides - the pro-choice and the pro-life

Robb sets the scene for her article by describing what it takes to get a doctor to perform abortions in South Dakota : the doctors must be

br flown in from another state , which in this case is Minnesota . The clinic itself has been built and reinforced to discourage attacks from militant pro-lifers , though these individuals do protest at the site . Abortions are performed once a week , on Mondays . Robb describes the abortion process itself , using a matter-of-fact tone . She does not gloss over the fact that a tube is inserted in the woman 's uterus and it will be connected to a machine that will suck out the fetus . The fetus will be placed - in pieces - in a glass jar and disposed of as all medical waste

Robb transitions to the story of Nancy , who is at the clinic to get an abortion that day . She has a 6 year old child and a slightly younger boyfriend , so it is not the right time to add a new child to the family While many would insist that Nancy take responsibility for her choice it seems she already has : birth control simply didn 't work for her Leslie Unruh is a staunch supporter of abstinence (and most fascinatingly , a descendent of Laura Ingalls Wilder ) and she insists that there is no excuse for an unwanted pregnancy . In her opinion , sex creates many other ills , too - cervical cancer , bad grades , and poor female self-esteem ' Robb takes offense at this , admitting that she did sleep around and doesn 't feel those negative effects . Even so , the move to promote abstinence has President Bush 's approval and a 113 million budget

Robb approaches this article not only from the view of a writer looking for a good story , but as a woman who can relate to the plight of the abortion doctor - her uncle Bart was a doctor who performed abortions until he was assassinated in his home . Bart 's experience with abortion - and especially repeat abortion --- taught him that the real solution was to increase access to birth control and make it free to those who need it . This is the case in Denmark , which has had mandatory sex education /birth control programs in schools since 1970 and has a much lower abortion rate than the United States . Before Bart 's death he was hounded by protesters with whom he was willing to make a deal

He said if they would stop harassing him and his family (he particularly didn 't like them following his kids to school and asking them not to grow up to...