My commitment to abortion care was solidified during my own abortion. I was in grad school, in another country and in no position for a pregnancy. I was fortunate enough that where I was had adopted a safe, free and legal abortion act in 1985. I was able to obtain a procedure in a healthy, clean environment without worrying about how I was going to pay for it. That’s not an experience that I could have had in the U.S.
After my abortion, I volunteered as an escort for two Philadelphia clinics. Every week, regardless of weather, I stood outside in my yellow smock and walked patients and their support people into the clinics. Sometimes there was one protester, often there were more. For a long time I felt as though all of their hateful comments were directed at me because I had had an abortion. I wanted to absorb some of the offensive speech for the womyn I was walking into the clinic; to act as a shield for them, to make their day just a little easier.
I work inside the clinic now and as a provider my job is to trust womyn, to respect them, to love and support them through what can often be a difficult time and offer them superior abortion care services. I am here to facilitate their decision, whether it is to have an abortion, carry to term or pursue adoption. That is what pro-choice means – having options with which to make a choice. Everyday I think about my decision to remain pro-choice, to work in a place under the constant threat of violence, to meet womyn with beautiful stories and lives and to make their day just a little easier by letting them know they are not alone. Everyday I choose not to be silenced.
I am Dr. Tiller.
