Abortion

Indiana Right to Life Fails to Close Clinic Under Americans with Disabilities Act

A new ploy to close down a local clinic that provides abortions was rejected by the federal government.

Cathie Humbarger. Photo: World News Inc.

Indiana anti-choice advocates weren’t content simply to allow the state legislature to pass TRAP bills that would increase the expense of running a clinic that provides abortions. Now, they’ve tried a new ploy—filing a disability complaint.

The federal government, however, isn’t biting.

Executive Director Cathie Humbarger of Allen County Right to Life filed a complaint in July against the Fort Wayne Women’s Health clinic, charging that a lack of wheelchair access to the building was violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Via the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel:

[I]n a letter dated Sept. 29, the Justice Department said it would take no action even though “our decision does not indicate whether or not we believe there has been a violation of the ADA . . . the Department is not able to pursue every complaint we receive.”

“All they needed to do was send a letter,” responded Humbarger, who said she may investigate other possible responses. “Even though fewer women in Allen County are getting abortions, they still deserve a facility that meets federal law.”

Humbarger said she’s not finished with the complaint. According to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, she told supporters at the group’s annual banquet, “I will be in this fight for life until no more babies die and no more mothers cry.”