Two physicians providing medical evaluations and second opinions for late-term abortions performed by George Tiller at the Kansas Wichita Clinic discontinued their services on Monday, according to a local newspaper.
Kansas law requires that any abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy be performed only if two independent doctors determine that carrying the pregnancy to term would cause “substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.”
In 2007, notorious late-term abortionist, George Tiller was charged with 19 misdemeanors for failing to abide by this law. Specifically, Tiller failed to abide by the provision requiring that an unaffiliated physician confirm the medical necessity of a late term abortion procedure by enlisting second opinions from doctors, including Dr. Burt Odenheimer, who work for the Wichita Clinic, where Tiller performed the abortions.
Tiller immediately challenged the constitutionality of the state’s late term abortion restrictions. AUL filed an amicus brief in the state trial court on behalf of numerous state legislators seeking to have the legislature’s intent in enacting the law carried out (To see the brief, please click here).
What makes the situation even more interesting is the fact that the Judge sitting on the case is running for re-election. Given the local disaccord with Tiller’s late term abortion procedures and the pressure placed on the clinic to stop them, it remains to be seen how the ruling in the case will affect the Judge’s re-election.
