Kansas Supreme Court Hears Tiller Case: Abortion-Mill Doctor Subpoenaed |
I have been watching this case develop over the last couple of years. If Dr.Tiller is the gentle healer he claims to be and if any patient’s identifying information is redacted, what is the good Doctor so worried about? Why is he fighting this hammer and tong?
~~John Cronin~~
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1998689/posts
4/8/08 | Devon Williams
Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2008 5:51:01 PM by XR7
The Kansas Supreme Court heard arguments today over subpoenaed medical records of notorious abortionist George Tiller, who is accused of performing late-term abortions — which are illegal in Kansas — at his Wichita clinic.
In January, the Sedgwick County grand jury subpoenaed about 2,000 late-term abortion records from Tiller’s clinic; the judge reduced that to 250. Tiller is refusing to turn over the records, claiming it would violate his patients’ privacy. However, the grand jury requested that all patient-identifying information be redacted from the subpoenaed records before the jury receives them.
Tiller’s attorneys argued the grand jury investigation constitutes harassment, but several justices were skeptical of that claim, The Associated Press reported.
Operation Rescue President Troy Newman said the people who demanded this grand jury are tired of Tiller’s repeated obstructions.
“Tiller just doesn’t want the grand jury to see anything — not the records, not the inside of his clinic, not the abortion process, and certainly not the truth,” he said. “The Supreme Court needs to allow the grand jury to do its job and conduct an honest and thorough investigation.”
Donna Lippoldt of the developing Kansas Family Policy Council participated in a prayer rally outside of Tiller’s clinic during the hearing. She was joined by pro-life groups, including Kansans for Life, Operation Save America, Pro-Life Kansas and Heartbeat Ministires.
Several life advocates also gathered for a rally outside the Supreme Court building in Topeka.
“If there is no way to hold George Tiller accountable, if he doesn’t ever have to produce any records, then how are we ever going to have any laws enforced in regard to stopping abortion?” Lippoldt asked. “If the Supreme Court of the state of Kansas denies the grand jury access to the redacted medical records to prove that laws have been broken, then George Tiller is truly above the law.”
A banner hanging outside Tiller’s clinic reads, “Wichita Stands with Dr. George Tiller. 35 Years of Saving Women’s Lives,” but Lippoldt said she does not see support for Tiller.
“George Tiller has bought so much influence over the last 35 years,” she said. “But if you go to the records, you’re going to find out that there has never been an instance in the last 35 years where George Tiller did an abortion to save a woman’s life.”
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is reporting that almost half of the abortions in the state over the last decade have been performed on out-of-state women. In the past two years, nearly 90 percent have come from Missouri.
Operation Rescue’s Newman said many of those women came to see Tiller.
