WICHITA, Kansas -- An abortion rights advocate says Wichita will have an abortion clinic in 2012.The abortion rights group, Trust Women, says it has raised half of the money needed to open a clinic.
The everlasting, fierce battle between abortion rights groups and pro-life groups could soon heat up once again.
Trust Women, a political action committee, says plans to open a Wichita abortion committee are right on track.
They've raised half the money needed and have even hired a medical director.
The group's attorney released a statement Wednesday saying: "Trust Women is looking forward to providing women with health services in this area where there are currently no services available."
Where the clinic would be located and who would peform the services remains unclear.
Still, it appears to be the closest Wichita has come to having a clinic since 2009, the year abortion doctor George Tiller was killed.
The updated news is already unsettling news to pro-life groups.
“We will do a lot of research on whoever the abortionist is and find out all of their background like we have all of the rest of them,” said David Gittrich, with Kansans For Life.
Someone already familiar to Gittrich, Wichita physician Mila Means, announced separate plans to offer abortions.
Things are moving slow. She's still working to start a non-profit to raise money.
There's also the issue of revised state regulations like allowing only a physician to dispense drugs and requiring providers to make all records available for review by the state health deparment. Providers are calling such measures burdensome.
Regardless, Means plans to fight on.
“I don't anticipate and don't intend to let that sway me from continuing to try to bring abortion practices back into Wichita, Kansas,” Means said.
Meanwhile a federal judge will hear a lawsuit filed by two providers, challenging those regulations.
