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INDIANAPOLIS – An Indianapolis physician who carried out an abortion on a 10-year-old rape sufferer from Ohio took step one Tuesday towards suing Indiana’s legal professional basic for defamation.
Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an Indianapolis obstetrician-gynecologist who gave the woman a medication-induced abortion on June 30, filed a tort declare discover over what she says are false statements that Legal professional Normal Todd Rokita has made about her and her work.
Bernard acquired widespread consideration after she gave an interview to the Indianapolis Star in regards to the youngster, who traveled to Indiana from Ohio for the abortion. A so-called fetal heartbeat legislation took impact in Ohio final month after the Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade. Such legal guidelines ban abortions from the time a fetus’ cardiac exercise might be detected, which is usually across the sixth week of being pregnant.
A 27-year-old man was charged final week in Columbus, Ohio, with raping the woman, confirming the existence of a case that was initially met with skepticism by some information retailers and Republican politicians.
FILE – Abortion-rights demonstrators maintain placards expressing their opinion throughout a protest march earlier than the Fourth of July Parade in Bloomington, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Pictures/LightRocket by way of Getty Pictures)
Bernard’s lawyer, Kathleen DeLaney, filed the “tort declare discover” towards Rokita simply days after she despatched a stop and desist letter. The declare begins a 90-day interval for the state to settle it. If it is not settled, Bernard might file a lawsuit. The declare did not say how a lot cash Bernard is searching for, noting that “the hurt is ongoing.”
“Mr. Rokita’s false and deceptive statements about alleged misconduct by Dr. Bernard in her occupation represent defamation,” the declare reads. “The statements have been and proceed to be revealed by or on behalf of Mr. Rokita and the Workplace of the Legal professional Normal.”
After the information of the 10-year-old’s abortion broke, Rokita informed Fox Information that he would examine whether or not Bernard violated youngster abuse notification or abortion reporting legal guidelines. He additionally stated his workplace would look into whether or not something Bernard stated to the Indianapolis Star in regards to the woman’s case violated federal medical privateness legal guidelines. Rokita provided no particular allegations of wrongdoing.
Information obtained by The Related Press and native information retailers present that Bernard submitted her report in regards to the woman’s abortion on July 2, which is inside Indiana’s required three-day reporting interval for an abortion carried out on a woman youthful than 16.
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A spokesperson for Rokita stated Bernard’s declare is “baseless” and makes an attempt to “distract from the vital work of the workplace.”
“Legal professional Normal Rokita and the Workplace of Legal professional Normal are leaders within the pro-life motion,” spokesperson Kelly Stevenson stated by way of e mail. “His historic work has additional distinguished Indiana as a protector of unborn life and girls.”
The Indiana Democratic Get together criticized Rokita for the impression the lawsuit would have on taxpayers.
“Hoosier taxpayers will now need to pay for Legal professional Normal Todd Rokita’s nationwide smear marketing campaign towards a physician who helped a 10-year-old rape survivor attain a authorized and secure abortion,” social gathering spokesperson Drew Anderson wrote in an e mail.
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Arleigh Rodgers is a corps member for the Related Press/Report for America Statehouse Information Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit nationwide service program that locations journalists in native newsrooms to report on undercovered points. Comply with her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/arleighrodgers
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