Clinic offering abortions to open in Las Cruces

The announcement of the new clinic opening up has sparked a debate over abortions and whether or not they should be available in Las Cruces.

“It’s not the quick fix they thought it would be,” Deborah Taylor, with Turning Point Pregnancy Help Center, said.

The clinic is set to open September 15th, 2014. It’s a decision pro-choice advocates including Dr. Earl Nissen, chairman of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Workgroup, applauds.

“We have 100,000 people living in this town and a lot of women I know have had to go to Albuquerque to have their procedure, but now it will be right here in Las Cruces,” Dr. Nissen said.

Pro-life advocates, however, believe the clinic is a bad idea.

“It’s a decision that’s usually made in panic and in fear,” Taylor said.

The clinic will provide same-day procedures, something Texas clinics are restricted from doing.
Taylor says the issue goes beyond the new clinic itself. She says New Mexico needs to implement tighter restrictions on abortions.

“I think New Mexico needs stronger regulations for abortion laws. Right now, we don’t require as a state, for a young woman to have an ultrasound before having an abortion procedure performed,” Taylor said.

Dr. Niseen disagrees. He says women, especially teens, have limited options and are forced to resort to unsafe practices.

“We heard a lot of teens were going to Juarez and having some back alley stuff which really scares me because it could end up in fatalities,” Dr. Nissen said.

The clinic will be the second clinic in Dona Ana County to offer abortions.