Indiana doctor reprimanded for talking publicly about Ohio 10-year-old's abortion
An Indiana board has decided to reprimand an Indianapolis doctor after finding that she violated patient privacy laws by taking publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim Indiana doctor Bernard has been reprimanded for talking publicly about Ohio 10-year-old's abortion, and has told the state Medical Licensing Board that she followed Indiana's reporting requirements and hospital policy by notifying hospital social workers about the child abuse. Her lawyers also said that she didn't release any identifying information about the girl that would break privacy laws. The case sparked a national political uproar in the weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, and Ohio's law imposing a near-ban on abortion was in effect for about two months. Indiana’s Republican-dominated Legislature approved a statewide abortion ban shortly after the Ohio case drew attention, but abortions have continued to be permitted in the state while awaiting an Indiana Supreme Court decision on the ban's constitutionality.
Published : 7 days ago by By TOM DAVIES - Associated Press in
Bernard has consistently defended her actions, and she told the state Medical Licensing Board on Thursday that she followed Indiana’s reporting requirements and hospital policy by notifying hospital social workers about the child abuse — and that the girl’s rape was already being investigated by Ohio authorities. Bernard's lawyers also said that she didn’t release any identifying information about the girl that would break privacy laws.
The Indianapolis Star cited the girl’s case in a July 1 article that sparked a national political uproar in the weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, putting into effect an Ohio law that prohibited abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Some news outlets and Republican politicians falsely suggested Bernard fabricated the story, until a 27-year-old man was charged with the rape in Columbus, Ohio. During an event at the White House, President Joe Biden nearly shouted his outrage over the case.
“I think that it’s incredibly important for people to understand the real-world impacts of the laws of this country about abortion,” Bernard said. “I think it’s important for people to know what patients will have to go through because of legislation that is being passed, and a hypothetical does not make that impact."
During Thursday's hearing, Rokita’s office kept up a running commentary on its official Twitter account, with one post saying “When Bernard talked about the high priority she puts on legislation and speaking to the public, she did so at the expense of her own patient. This shows where her priorities are as an activist rather than a doctor.”
Lawyers for the attorney general’s office repeatedly raised questions about whether the policy of Bernard’s employer, Indiana University Health, to report suspected child abuse to authorities in the state where the abuse occurred complied with Indiana law. Officials of IU Health, which is the state’s largest hospital system, testified that the Indiana Department of Child Services has never objected to the hospital policy.
The Indiana board — made up of six doctors and one attorney appointed or reappointed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb — could vote whether to impose any penalties Thursday after hearing what is expected to be several hours of testimony. State law gives the board wide latitude, allowing it to issue reprimand letters or suspend, revoke or place on probation a doctor’s license.
Ohio’s law imposing a near-ban on abortion was in effect for about two months, before being put on hold as a lawsuit against it plays out. Indiana’s Republican-dominated Legislature approved a statewide abortion ban weeks after the Ohio girl’s case drew attention, but abortions have continued to be permitted in the state while awaiting an Indiana Supreme Court decision on the ban’s constitutionality.
Topics: Social Issues, Ohio, Abortion, Indiana