Dr. Niide may seem like a tyrannical task master, but in reality he is a compassionate clinic director.

"We are part of mainstream medicine here now, no question about it," Ms. Rouche, the clinic director, said.

Sitting around the table are Deborah Frank, who is the clinic director, social workers and nutritionists and a home teacher.

Johnson had previously worked at Planned Parenthood as a clinic director, but resigned in October 2009.

But clinic directors, who complain they have been "ghettoized," suspect other motives.

Some clinic directors decided it was not enough to treat abortion as a straightforward medical procedure.

In the county, many doctors and clinic directors interviewed either refused to discuss the subject or did so on the condition of anonymity.

I did not tell anyone, ignoring the directions laid down by the clinic director, and the visit was completed without incident.

Chase law students staff the clinic under the supervision of a full-time clinic director and licensed attorney.

At least one clinic director said he expected to do research to make it a practical possibility in the near future.