Indiana doctor’s lawyer tells AG to halt false statements

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A lawyer on Friday emailed the Indiana state’s legal professional common asking him to cease spreading false or deceptive details about an Indianapolis physician who carried out an abortion in June on a 10-year-old rape sufferer from Ohio.

Legal professional Kathleen DeLaney despatched the “stop and desist” letter to Indiana Republican Legal professional Common Todd Rokita on behalf of obstetrician-gynecologist Caitlin Bernard, who carried out a medical abortion on the woman.

The letter says Rokita’s statements Wednesday on Fox Information “forged Dr. Bernard in a false gentle and allege misconduct in her career.” DeLaney mentioned the physician may file a defamation declare in opposition to Rokita if he doesn’t comply.

Rokita advised Fox that he would examine whether or not Bernard violated baby abuse notification or abortion reporting legal guidelines. He additionally mentioned his workplace would look into whether or not something Bernard mentioned to the Indianapolis Star in regards to the case violated federal medical privateness legal guidelines. He provided no particular allegations of wrongdoing.

Data obtained by The Related Press and different native media present Bernard submitted the report July 2, which is throughout the state’s required three-day reporting interval for an abortion carried out on a woman youthful than 16.

“We’re particularly involved that, given the controversial political context of the statements, such inflammatory accusations have the potential to incite harassment or violence from the general public which may forestall Dr. Bernard, an Indiana licensed doctor, from offering care to her patents safely,” the letter states.

A 27-year-old man has been charged within the woman’s rape, confirming the case that was scrutinized by Republican politicians and a few media shops. These reactions grew in depth after Democratic President Joe Biden expressed sympathy for the woman when signing an govt order defending some abortion entry final week.

“Like several correspondence, will probably be reviewed if and when it arrives. Regardless, no false or deceptive statements have been made,” Kelly Stevenson, a spokesperson in Rokita’s workplace, mentioned through e-mail.

Bernard tweeted Friday that she hopes “to have the ability to share my story quickly.”

“It has been a tough week, however my colleagues and I’ll proceed to offer healthcare ethically, lovingly, and bravely each day,” she wrote.

Dr. Diana Contreras, chief well being care officer at Deliberate Parenthood Federation of America, issued an announcement saying, “No medical supplier ought to be harassed, intimidated, or criminalized for doing their job. It’s unconscionable and unacceptable, and we condemn it within the strongest doable phrases.”

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This story was first revealed on July 15, 2022. It was up to date on July 17, 2022, to right feedback made by Legal professional Common Todd Rokita about obstetrician-gynecologist Caitlin Bernard associated to an abortion she carried out on a 10-year-old baby abuse sufferer.