Nearly 3,000 abortions occur each day in the United States. Although we often hear stories from women who experience the pain of abortion, we tend to forget about who else is in the room. Behind each abortion is a doctor, nurse, or assistant who helped make it happen.
These former abortionist quotes offer a rare look into what they witnessed and what ultimately changed their perspective. Each one has an important story to tell.
Why Some Abortion Providers Have Chosen to Speak Out
After what they have witnessed, many doctors who leave the abortion industry feel compelled to speak out and advocate against abortion.
When they share their unique perspective, we can learn more truth about abortion and the realities women face when they enter a clinic.
These abortion providers see firsthand what leads a woman to choose abortion, and how the care she receives at the time of decision can change everything.
At Save the Storks, we believe women deserve to be met with compassion, clarity, and real support in these moments.
Through our Mobile Medical Clinics, women receive care and answers so they can make informed decisions without pressure.
7 Former Abortionist Quotes
These former abortionist quotes reveal the moments that led many providers to rethink their work and ultimately speak out.
1. Dr. Catherine Wheeler
“There’s pride to doing them. Like you’re one of the people who will step in and help women. That’s the narrative. That you’re the person who will help a woman, but it’s really twisted.”
Dr. Wheeler’s testimony reflects the belief many providers begin with, that they are helping women in difficult situations. But for some, that belief can change in a moment.
“I started the abortion and almost immediately felt this complete presence of evil… I remember sitting there thinking, ‘This has to do with the abortion.’”
For Dr. Wheeler, that moment became deeply personal. It marked the beginning of her advocacy for babies and mothers.
Read her full story here: Dr. Wheeler’s Story
2. Kathy Lesnoff
Kathy Lesnoff vividly remembers the day she realized the reality of abortion.
“It was like a veil lifted,” she said. “I suddenly saw it for what it was—I was killing babies. And it didn’t matter if they were six weeks or 23. They were all babies.”
You can read her full story here: From Abortion Assistant to Life-Affirming CEO
3. Dr. Anthony Levatino
Dr. Anthony Levatino performed an estimated 1,200 abortions during his career. After the loss of his own daughter, his heart changed. When he returned to work and performed a D&E procedure, he experienced a moment that shifted how he saw everything.
“I know it sounds strange to people, but for the first time in my life, I looked. I really looked… and I didn’t see a ‘right to choose,’ and I didn’t see what a great doctor I was. I didn’t even see the $800 I had just made in 15 minutes. All I could see was somebody’s son or daughter.”
4. Dr. Kathi Aultman
Dr. Aultman was working in the NICU at the same time she was performing abortions. Seeing one baby die while working to keep another alive at the same gestational age, she began to question everything.
“I think about all the people that I will never meet, because I aborted them.”
5. Dr. Patti Geibink
Dr. Patti Giebink has spoken about concerns she began to notice during her time working in abortion care.
“I wrote our governor… because I knew that informed consent laws weren’t being followed the way they should have been.”
She also reflected on how quickly decisions could happen. In one moment that stayed with her, a woman chose to move forward with an abortion despite uncertainty, fearing she would lose her money if she didn’t.
“She was so convinced that she wasn’t going to get her money back that we just went ahead with the procedure.”
For Dr. Giebink, these moments raised deeper questions about patient care and whether women were truly being supported.
6. Dr. Paul E. Jarrett, Jr.
“I saw a tiny, beating heart… and I looked squarely in the face of another human being… I just knew that I couldn’t be a part of abortion anymore.”
For Dr. Jarrett, this experience was immediate and undeniable. It led him to step away from abortion work entirely.
7. Abby Johnson
After working as a Planned Parenthood director, Abby Johnson shared the moment her perspective shifted.
“I saw a 13-week baby fighting for his life during an ultrasound-guided abortion. And I knew I could no longer be a part of it.”
That moment led her to leave the industry and begin advocating for women and writing the book that would eventually become the movie Unplanned.
What These Stories Reveal
While each story is different, a common truth is revealed through these experiences.
Being pro-choice and seeing the reality of abortion up close are vastly different experiences. These stories show that when your eyes are opened to abortion, there’s no turning back. They reveal how significant these moments are, not just for providers, but for the women walking into clinics.
These former abortion providers recognized that real, compassionate care matters. The kind of care a woman receives in the moment she’s facing an unplanned pregnancy can shape the rest of her life.
Support Women in Choosing Life
At Save the Storks, we believe no woman should feel alone or rushed in one of the most important moments of her life.
Through our Mobile Medical Clinics and always-on digital resources, women are met with compassion, medical care, and real support. They are given space to ask questions, see their baby on an ultrasound, and make informed decisions without pressure.
Right now, your gift can be doubled to help reach more women with life-affirming care when they need it most.
