Richard Ragsdale

Dr. Richard Ragsdale (d. October 23, 2004 ) was a physician who performed abortions in Illinois. Ragsdale opened his Northern Illinois Women's Center in 1973, after the Roe vs. Wade U.S. Supreme Court case striking down laws against abortion.

Ragsdale filed suit in 1988 to attempt to overturn Illinois laws requiring hospital standards for abortion clinic operating rooms. The case was due to be heard by the Supreme Court in 1989, but the parties settled out of court. The state agreed to establish regulations for abortion clinics that involved few restrictions through 18 weeks of pregnancy.