Clinic offering area abortions to close Friday

Gynecologist Harrison retires at age 74, citing his leukemia

— William F. Harrison, a Fayetteville gynecologist who has been a vocal advocate for legal abortions for decades, will close his medical practice Friday.

Harrison, 74, was diagnosed with leukemia in May and is unable to continue seeing patients, said Kitten Weiss, office manager at Fayetteville Women’s Clinic.

The clinic was the only one in Northwest Arkansas that performed elective surgical abortions.

Harrison opened his clinic at 1011 N. College Ave. in the late 1970s. For years, it has been the scene of antiabortion demonstrations and prayer vigils. Demonstrators are often seen picketing or praying either on the sidewalk immediately in front of Harrison’s clinic or across College Avenue.

The doctor has long been an advocate for keeping abortions legal, sometimes referring to those who protest the procedure as “terrorists.” A teenager tried to burn his clinic in 1985.

In 2005, he was profiled on the ABC news show Nightline, on which he said he had performed at least 10,000 abortions. He wrote and self-published a fictional account of an abortion clinic bombing titled There is aBomb in Gilead.

The closing of the clinic was welcomed by an organization seeking to outlaw abortions.

“We certainly don’t wish Dr. Harrison ill will, but we’re glad to hear he’s closing his doors,” said Rose Mimms, Arkansas Right to Life executive director. “Too many unborn children have died there. Dr. Harrison wasa mighty foe of ours for many, many years.”

In a letter dated Monday, the clinic notified some 500 current patients “it is with great sadness andregret that Fayetteville Women’s Clinic is closing.” The bottom of the letter says it’s from Harrison, members of his family, and Weiss, who has worked for Harrison for 19 years.

According to family members, Harrison delivered between 6,000 and 7,000 babies before ending the obstetrics portion of his practice.

Harrison began practicing in Fayetteville in 1972 in partnership with the late Dr. James Mashburn. He established the women’s clinic in the late 1970s, Weiss said.

Abortions represented a small part of Harrison’spractice, Weiss said. For example, on a day with 20 to 25 gynecological patients, about six patients would have abortions, she said.

It was Harrison’s illness that forced the decision to close the clinic.

“He had planned to practice for many years,” Weiss said. He is undergoing chemotherapy treatments for the bone marrow cancer.

Harrison’s gynecology patients are being referred to other physicians in Fayetteville. Patients seeking abortions will be referred toa clinic in Little Rock, Weiss said.

The closure leaves one Arkansas clinic, in Little Rock, that performs surgical abortions and two clinics operated by Planned Parenthood of Oklahoma and Eastern Arkansas that provide medical abortions, using medications to terminate pregnancies.

The local office of Planned Parenthood, an organization that supports safe, legal abortion, referred questions to a Planned Parenthood office in Tulsa. Messages left with a spokesman there were not returned as of Wednesday evening.

As recently as last spring, Harrison’s clinic was the target of protests. Local organizers conducted a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil across College Avenue from the clinic, corresponding to similar activities in locations across the nation and in other countries.

A national prayer group is celebrating the closing of Harrison’s clinic and others.

“This will be the sixth abortion center at a location where 40 Days for Life’s peaceful prayer vigils have been conducted to go out of business,” said Shawn Carney, campaign director for 40 Days for Life. “It is truly an answer to prayer that abortions will no longer be carried out at this facility. All the glory belongs to God.”

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 7 on 07/29/2010

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