FAYETTEVILLE — Dr. William F. Harrison, a Fayetteville gynecologist and advocate for legal abortions who has been a lightning rod for anti-abortion protests for years, will close his College Avenue 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 source of elective surgical abortions in Northwest Arkansas.
Harrison opened his clinic, just south of College Avenue’s intersection with North Street, in the late 1970s. For years, it has been the scene of anti-abortion demonstrations and “prayer vigils” by people opposing the procedure. Demonstrators are often seen praying either on the sidewalk immediately in front of Harrison’s clinic or across College Avenue.
Harrison has long been a vocal advocate for his patients and the legal delivery of abortions, sometimes referring to those who protest the procedure as terrorists. A teenager tried to burn his clinic in 1985.
In 2005, he was extensively profiled on the ABC news show “Nightline,” on which he said he had performed at least 10,000 abortions. He wrote and published his own fictional account of an abortion clinic bombing called “There is a Bomb in Gilead.”
In a letter dated Monday, the clinic notified some 500 active patients “it is with great sadness and regret that Fayetteville Women’s Clinic is closing.” The bottom of the letter says it’s from Weiss, who has worked for Harrison for 19 years; from Harrison; and from members of Harrison’s family.
According to family members, Harrison has 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 his practice, Weiss said. She described a typical day for Harrison as seeing 20 to 25 gynecological patients with about six abortions.
It was Harrison’s illness that forced the decision to close the clinic.
“He had planned to practice for many years,” Weiss said. He was diagnosed with leukemia in early May and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
Gynecology patients are being referred to other physicians in Fayetteville. Patients seeking abortions will be referred to a clinic in Little Rock, Weiss said.
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 was a mighty foe of ours for many, many years.”
The closing leaves one clinic in Arkansas that performs surgical abortions, located in Little Rock, and two clinics operated by Planned Parenthood of Oklahoma and Eastern Arkansas that provide medical abortions, using medications to terminate a pregnancy.
The local office of Planned Parenthood, an organization that supports the delivery of safe and legal abortion, referred questions to a Planned Parenthood office in Tulsa, Okla. Messages left with a spokesman there were not returned Wednesday.
As recently as last spring Harrison’s clinic was the target of organized opposition. Local organizers conducted a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil across College Avenue from the clinic, mirroring 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, according to a report in Wednesday’s New York Times.
“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.”