Illinois abortion business injures 14th woman in just over a year

Operation Rescue has reported another abortion injury at Hope Clinic for Women in Granite City, Illinois. The injury marks the 14th known botched abortion at the facility since March 2022.

Records show that abortionist Erin King made the 911 call on July 19 for a 35-year-old patient who was hemorrhaging after a second-trimester dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion. In the call, King was careful not to use the word “hemorrhage,” in a likely attempt to downplay the severity of the situation, noting only that the patient sustained “heavier bleeding than we can manage at our facility.” King requested transport for the woman to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a Level One Trauma Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

The D&E abortion is a brutal procedure in which the abortionist uses a Sopher clamp to grasp and dismember the child piece by piece and remove him or her from the uterus, usually in pieces. Afterward, the abortionist uses a tool called a curette to scrape the lining of the uterus and ensure that no pieces of the child are left behind. Complications may include uterine perforation, laceration, infection, hemorrhage, or even death.

2nd Trimester Abortion | Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) | What Is Abortion?

Abortion injuries at Hope Clinic have become increasingly common, yet it remains open for business. Operation Rescue has documented 14 injuries since March 2022, when the facility was acquired by Julie Burkhart, who was mentored by the late George Tiller. Operation Rescue reports that at that time, Burkhart promised to commit more abortions at the facility, and since then, documented abortion injuries have doubled. Because injuries are only reported when sidewalk counselors are outside to document their occurrence, the real number of instances may be higher. Burkhart also founded Trust Women, an organization with abortion businesses in Kansas and Oklahoma.

“The number of life-threatening botched abortions taking place at this hopeless facility puts a dark stain on the state of Illinois and the city of Granite City,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “At Operation Rescue, we are well aware of the dangers of abortion, and we work hard to bring awareness to the public about the life-threatening injuries that happen with incredible frequency at these killing centers. And, this grossly misnamed facility is certainly one of the worst in the country.”