Tiller's Former Clinic Purchased by Group Working to Re-Establish Abortion Services

September 26, 2012 — The Trust Women Foundation on Tuesday filed documents with Kansas officials identifying it as the new owner of a building that once housed the practice of George Tiller, an abortion provider who was shot to death by an antiabortion-rights activist in 2009, the Wichita Eagle reports.

Wichita has not had an abortion provider since Tiller's murder. The foundation, which is led by former Tiller employee Julie Burkhart, has been working to re-establish a clinic to provide abortion services.

Erin Thompson -- a lawyer for Tiller's widow, Jeanne Tiller, who was the sole owner of the building -- confirmed that the family had sold the building.

Mark Gietzen, president of the Kansas Coalition for Life, released a statement saying his group would resume protests in the area if a clinic opens.

Abortion Clinic Regulations Could Complicate Reopening

If Burkhart decides to offer abortion services at the facility, the clinic could have to meet hospital-level building standards and other requirements that lawmakers have imposed on abortion clinics since Tiller's death.

State officials have been temporarily blocked from enforcing the new rules because of legal challenges arguing that they are excessive, medically unnecessary and unconstitutional.

The new regulations range from requirements for the types of medications that must be kept onsite, to the size and temperature of rooms and the widths of doors. The clinic could also be required to have at least one physician on staff who has admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the facility (Lefler, Wichita Eagle, 9/25).