Its attorney general Indiana today asked the State Medical Board to sanction a doctor who performed an abortion on a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio. This case has been found in focus of public controversy on abortion access in the US.
Attorney General Todd Rokita, who is a Republican, accuses Dr. Caitlin Bernard of “violated the patient’s right to privacys” and at the same time failed to immediately report child abuse to Indiana authorities.
Rokita was investigating whether Dr. Bernard complied with state law requiring doctors to report the abortionsaltough public records showed that the doctor immediately reported the abortion, as she was required to. Rokita’s office, however, asked the Medical Board to determine the appropriate “penalty” for Dr. Bernard, which could range from a letter of reprimand to the permanent revocation of her medical license.
The doctor’s attorney, Kathleen Delaney, said her client complied with all requirements of the law and pleaded his case girl within the limits of privacy legislation. The administrative sanctions requested by Rokita “is clearly a last ditch effort to intimidate Dr. Bernard” and other doctors who perform abortions, he argued.
The doctor has said the girl was referred to her for termination of her pregnancy just three days after the Supreme Court of USA overturned the 1973 decision (Roe v. Wade) that made abortion legal at the federal level. Ohio was one of the first states to severely limit or ban abortions after the June ruling. Some even do not make any exceptions, not even for cases rapes or incest.
Fierce legal battle between the doctor and the attorney general
The attorney general does not dispute whether the 10-year-old met the criteria (not to have exceeded the 22nd week of pregnancy). When Dr. Bernard took her over, she was three days past the six-week limit set by her State. Ohio.
On the occasion of this case he has start a bitter legal battle between the doctor and the attorney general. Dr. Bernard and her partner sued Rokita earlier this month, seeking an end to searches of patients’ medical records related to abortions. According to Dr. Bernard and as relayed by the Athens News Agency, complaints have been made against her by people who only learned about the 10-year-old’s case from the news and they repeat the false claim that she had not filed a report with the authorities.
Source: News Beast
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
