The Business of AbortionThe Business of AbortionAbortion is not just a controversial political subject: it is also a business. The following "Income Statement" is from an article in the Wall Street Journal in 1995. It depicts the business of the National Women's Health Organization abortion facility in Fargo, North Dakota.
| Revenue | Expenses | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient Fees | $500,000 | Staff payroll | $151,000 |
| Abortionist's salary | 146,500 | ||
| Advertising | 48,000 | ||
| Rent | 30,000 | ||
| Medical malpractice insurance | 24,000 | ||
| Legal costs | 23,000 | ||
| Lab, pathology | 20,400 | ||
| Security | 11,000 | ||
| Other | 26,700 | ||
| Total Expenses | 516,600 | ||
Notes:
25% of the income came from gynecological exams; the rest from abortions. They charge $400 for a first-trimester abortion.
The figure listed for the abortionist's salary includes travel expenses. They have to fly abortionists in from other states, because no North Dakota doctor wants the job.
The advertising costs listed included a conventional Yellow Pages ad, but also ads in college newspapers and commercials on MTV. The National Coalition of Abortion Providers has added a "Marketing Tips" column to its newsletter.
The Wall Street Journal estimated that abortion is now a $450 million per year industry. Other analysts have placed it as high as $1 billion.