Chicago’s newly opened Hope Clinic now performs third-trimester abortions on fully formed babies up to 34 weeks, despite 70% of Americans opposing such late-term procedures.
Key Takeaways
- Hope Clinic has opened in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood offering “all-trimester” abortions, including surgical procedures up to 34 weeks gestation
- The facility is the only standalone clinic in the Midwest offering third-trimester abortions and one of few nationwide
- Illinois law permits abortions up to fetal viability (around 24 weeks) and later if a woman’s health—including psychological health—is deemed at risk
- A 2023 Gallup poll reveals strong American opposition to late-term procedures, with 55% against second-trimester and 70% against third-trimester abortions
- Pro-life advocates condemn the practice as “brutal” and “ghastly,” while the clinic defends its services as “compassionate” and “necessary”
Illinois Becomes Midwest Hub for Extreme Late-Term Abortions
Hope Clinic, which recently expanded to Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, is now offering what it proudly calls “all-trimester” abortion services—including surgical procedures on babies up to 34 weeks gestation. This makes it the only standalone clinic in the Midwest providing third-trimester abortions and places it among just a handful of facilities nationwide willing to perform such controversial late-term procedures. The clinic’s expansion represents a significant development in the post-Dobbs landscape, where Illinois has positioned itself as a regional abortion destination while neighboring states have enacted stronger protections for unborn children.
The clinic made its intentions clear with a public announcement celebrating its Chicago opening: “Hope Clinic is now open in Chicago, IL, expanding our care through all trimesters! (And OMG we couldn’t be more excited),” Hope Clinic posted on social media.
Illinois law allows abortions up to fetal viability (approximately 24 weeks) and permits even later procedures when a provider determines a woman’s health is at risk—a broadly interpreted standard that includes psychological and emotional factors. This loophole effectively creates a pathway for abortions throughout all nine months of pregnancy, a radical position rejected by the vast majority of Americans according to polling data. The clinic’s opening has intensified debate about the ethics and legality of terminating pregnancies when babies are fully formed and capable of surviving outside the womb.
Clinic Defends Controversial Procedures Despite Public Opposition
Dr. Erin King, Hope Clinic’s chief medical officer, has attempted to defend the facility’s practices while acknowledging they operate at the extreme edge of public acceptance. “I want people to know that we are absolutely following the law, but that we make a really careful determination. And we want to provide access to as many people as we can within the law,” stated Dr. Erin King, Chief Medical Officer at Hope Clinic.
The clinic cites several justifications for later-term abortions, including fetal anomalies, delayed discovery of pregnancy, and barriers to earlier care. However, they also openly acknowledge that “personal choice” factors into their decision-making process. This admission comes despite overwhelming public opposition to such practices. A 2023 Gallup poll revealed that 55% of Americans oppose second-trimester abortions, while a decisive 70% stand against third-trimester procedures. This widespread moral objection crosses political lines and represents one of the few areas of abortion consensus in a deeply divided country.
Pro-Life Advocates Condemn “Brutal” and “Ghastly” Practices
Pro-life advocates have responded with alarm to the clinic’s explicit marketing of late-term abortion services. Eric Scheidler, executive director of the Pro-Life Action League, highlighted the growing discomfort many Americans feel about abortions performed when babies are fully developed. “Almost everyone recognizes the brutality of an abortion that late in pregnancy. I think it’s a common ground area we have with a lot of people,” said Eric Scheidler, Executive Director of the Pro-Life Action League.
Anne O’Connor, Vice President of Legal Affairs at the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, offered an even stronger condemnation of the clinic’s practices. “This is a shameful situation and ironic that it is happening at a place called ‘Hope.’ There is no hope in that ghastly chamber – just despair and destruction,” said Anne O’Connor, Vice President of Legal Affairs at National Institute of Family and Life Advocates.
The brutal reality of third-trimester abortion procedures involves the termination of a baby that could potentially survive outside the womb with medical assistance. At 34 weeks—the upper limit of what Hope Clinic advertises—babies have fully developed organs, can recognize voices, respond to stimuli, and have excellent survival rates if delivered prematurely. The clinic’s willingness to end these lives represents an extreme position that puts it at odds with medical ethics, public opinion, and basic human dignity. While the clinic frames its services as “compassionate” and “necessary,” the actual procedures performed raise profound moral questions about the treatment of our society’s most vulnerable members.
