Wisconsin abortion doctors and workers preparing for resumption of abortion services

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- When Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin resumes providing abortion services Monday, Sept. 18, it will mark a new era because no legal abortions have been performed in Wisconsin for nearly 15 months.

Advocates say that delay has jeopardized the lives of women throughout the state.

Planned Parenthood determined the July 7 decision has given enough clarity to resume providing abortion services. There will likely be further appeals, but for now they're moving forward.

Molly Sisson worked as a patient escort at one of the four clinics in the state that closed when Roe v Wade was overturned.

They said, "It was definitely something unexpected for us in the space."

They were hoping the clinics would one day reopen, but Sisson said, "I think a lot of us were hoping, or expecting, a higher Supreme Court decision to come."

So when they got a text Thursday morning it came as a surprise.

Rachel Rebouché is the Dean at Temple University's Beasley School of Law and an expert in reproductive health litigation. She said Planned Parenthood no doubt weighed the risk after the July 7 decision.

Rebouché said, "As of now, a court in the state has said there is no abortion ban."

Which is why Planned Parenthood doctors will soon resume providing services at two clinics.

Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an OB/Gyn and abortion care provider, said, "I'll be honest, I do feel a little uncertain, I feel a little uncomfortable. But I trust them."

Lyerly is talking about her legal team, which will now navigate a likely appeal.

She said, "I have to count on my team to advise me and let me know when it's safe to do that. That's what they've told me."

When Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul announced a legal challenge to the 1849 law last summer, Dr. Lyerly was front and center. She told us, "It's been incredibly confusing for patients, and for physicians."

For nearly 15 months, the state of Wisconsin has been in a state of legal uncertainty.

Erica Steib protested the end of Roe last summer. On Thursday, she said the resumption of abortion services is encouraging, but a small step. "I was really thrilled to see that, but two abortion providers in the whole state of Wisconsin is so not enough."

Lyerly hopes the Sheboygan clinic she worked at will soon join the Milwaukee and Madison clinics in resuming abortion services once staffing and logistical issues are addressed.

She said, "I bet there's going to be some legal wrangling, I wouldn't be surprised, but I think we are absolutely headed in the right direction, and frankly, I'm staking my career on it."

But Rebouché said the July opinion is persuasive and ends -for now- months of legal uncertainty rarely seen in the US. "That's not what we should expect from our state legislatures. That's not what we should expect from our democracies."

Planned Parenthood is already taking appointments on its website and by phone.