Bay Area physician floats plan for offshore abortion clinic

SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco physician plans to assist ladies in states the place abortion is restricted or banned by providing providers on a floating clinic offshore. 

Dr. Meg Autry is the vice chair of graduate medical schooling and persevering with medical schooling for the Division of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UCSF. Autry mentioned she has had the concept for a vessel that would supply surgical abortions and reproductive well being care providers for a really very long time. It was the latest Supreme Court docket determination that helped encourage her to kick it into gear. 

She’s now spearheading the PRROWESS, which stands for Defending Reproductive Rights of Ladies Endangered by State Statutes. 

“That is all about bodily autonomy and selection, and so individuals have a proper to be pregnant and in addition to not have a being pregnant,” mentioned Dr. Autry. 

The vessel can be positioned on federal waters within the Gulf of Mexico, close to states the place abortions are banned. She needs to supply the providers at low or no value. 

“Folks that care deeply about entry to reproductive rights know that we’ve to be modern and artistic to ensure that sufferers to have the ability to proceed to have entry,” she mentioned. “We all know internationally that when entry is restricted or abortion is prohibited, sufferers die.”

The price is predicted to be at the least $20 million. Dr. Autry mentioned PRROWESS is in search of donations, ideally a donated boat. She is aware of that pulling this off will not be simple. The group is already working with a staff of attorneys.

“There’s operational, logistics, there’s the entire concept of maritime legislation after which there’s clearly safety, there’s legal responsibility, I imply the challenges are numerous,” mentioned Dr. Autry. 

If the group secures funding quickly, Dr. Autry hopes the floating clinic shall be prepared in a few 12 months.