
Chicago’s new Hope Clinic now performs abortions up to 34 weeks of pregnancy, a practice so controversial that 70% of Americans oppose it, according to a 2023 Gallup poll.
Key Takeaways
- Hope Clinic in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood is the only standalone clinic in the Midwest offering third-trimester abortions, performing surgical procedures up to 34 weeks of pregnancy.
- Illinois law allows abortions up to fetal viability (around 24 weeks) and later if the mother’s health, including mental health, is deemed at risk.
- A 2023 Gallup poll reveals significant opposition to late-term abortions, with 55% of Americans opposing second-trimester and 70% opposing third-trimester procedures.
- Pro-life activists condemn the practice as “brutal” and “ghastly,” while clinic officials defend their services as “compassionate” and claim full legal compliance.
- The clinic cites various reasons for late-term abortions including late pregnancy discovery, fetal anomalies, lack of earlier access to care, and personal choice.
Illinois Becomes Late-Term Abortion Haven
Hope Clinic’s recent opening in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood marks a controversial expansion of abortion services in the Midwest. The facility proudly offers “all-trimester” abortions, including surgical procedures up to 34 weeks gestation—a point when babies are fully formed, can recognize their mother’s voice, and would typically be delivered in just six weeks if the pregnancy continued. This makes it the only standalone clinic in the Midwest offering third-trimester abortions and one of just a few nationwide that perform these late-stage procedures, positioning Illinois as a destination for those seeking abortions well into viable pregnancies.
While most states restrict abortions much earlier in pregnancy, Illinois allows terminations up until fetal viability (generally considered around 24 weeks) and beyond if a medical provider determines the mother’s health is at risk. Notably, the definition of “health” is broadly interpreted to include mental and emotional well-being, creating a permissive environment for late-term procedures. The clinic’s operators have made no secret of their excitement about offering these controversial services, despite overwhelming public opposition to the practice of terminating pregnancies when babies could potentially survive outside the womb.
Clinic Defends Controversial Practice
Clinic officials have been quick to defend their services, claiming they operate within legal boundaries while maximizing access. “Hope Clinic is now open in Chicago, IL, expanding our care through all trimesters! (And OMG we couldn’t be more excited),” announced Hope Clinic in a social media post that sparked immediate backlash for its seemingly celebratory tone about a procedure many Americans find deeply troubling. The casual enthusiasm displayed about providing third-trimester abortions reflects the radical shift in how abortion providers frame their services—not as a rare, unfortunate necessity but as a positive good worthy of celebration.
“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,” said Dr. Erin King, the clinic’s chief medical officer.
The clinic’s representatives cite various circumstances to justify these late-term procedures, including delayed pregnancy discovery, fetal anomalies, lack of earlier access to care, and notably, “personal choice”—a justification that many Americans find particularly disturbing when applied to advanced pregnancies. Critics argue that at this stage, the argument is no longer about “reproductive healthcare” but about terminating the life of a developed, viable human being who could survive outside the womb with proper medical care.
Strong Opposition from Pro-Life Advocates
Pro-life advocates have expressed horror at the clinic’s practices. Eric Scheidler, executive director of the Pro-Life Action League, didn’t mince words when addressing the clinic’s services. “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,” he stated, highlighting the widespread moral discomfort with terminating pregnancies at such advanced stages. His assessment aligns with polling data showing that even many Americans who support early abortion access draw the line at later procedures.
“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 the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates.
The public’s sentiment largely aligns with these criticisms. According to a 2023 Gallup poll, a clear majority of Americans oppose second-trimester abortions (55%) with even stronger opposition to third-trimester procedures (70%). This overwhelming rejection of late-term abortion crosses political and demographic lines, suggesting that President Trump’s consistent opposition to late-term abortion represents the mainstream American view rather than the extreme position abortion advocates claim it to be.
Illinois Becomes Abortion Destination Under Permissive Laws
Since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision returned abortion regulation to the states, Illinois has positioned itself as a regional abortion destination. While neighboring states have enacted various restrictions, Illinois has moved in the opposite direction, expanding access and creating a permissive environment that attracts those seeking abortions from across the Midwest. Hope Clinic’s opening represents the culmination of this strategy, offering procedures that would be illegal in most other states and that most Americans consider morally unacceptable.
The clinic’s practices raise serious questions about how far abortion access should extend, even in states with liberal abortion laws. At 34 weeks, premature babies regularly survive with proper medical care, making these procedures particularly troubling to many observers across the political spectrum. As America continues to grapple with defining reasonable limits on abortion, the Hope Clinic stands as a stark example of what happens when virtually all restrictions are removed—a reality that most Americans, according to polling data, find deeply disturbing.