Indiana abortionist Dr. Caitlin Bernard may need to think twice before mouthing off to the press next time she’s been reprimanded by the state’s Medical Licensing Board. After a hearing last Thursday that lasted 13 hours, the board found that she had not complied with privacy laws during the interviews to the Indianapolis Star. about the abortion she performed on a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio. As a result, Bernard was fined $3,000, although no restrictions were placed on her ability to practice medicine.
The Related presswho followed the interrogation and his reactions, stated the following:
The state Board of Medical Licensing found that Dr. Caitlin Bernard did not comply with privacy laws when she told a newspaper reporter about the girl’s treatment in a case that became a flashpoint in the national abortion debate days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer.
The board, however, rejected claims by Indiana’s Republican attorney general that Bernard violated state law by failing to report child molestation to Indiana authorities. Board members decided to fine Bernard $3,000 for the violations, denying a request from the attorney general’s office to suspend Bernard’s license. The board did not place any restrictions on her medical practice.
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The president of the medical board, Dr. John Strobel, said he believed Bernard went too far in telling a reporter about the girl’s impending abortion and that doctors must be careful in respecting the patient’s privacy.
“I don’t think she expected it to go viral,” Strobel said of Bernard. “I don’t think she expected this patient to get this much attention. That’s what happened. It happened.”
Bernard’s attorney, Alice Morical, told the board Thursday that the doctor had reported abusing patients multiple times a year, and a hospital social worker confirmed with child welfare workers in Ohio that the girl was protected to leave the hospital with her mother.
“Dr. Bernard could not have anticipated the unusual and intense scrutiny this story received,” Morical said. “She didn’t expect politicians to say she made up the story.”
Whether or not one believes that Bernard really didn’t expect any attention to the situation, the board determined what it found, and in the end, she was still fined.
Worth highlighting like Megan Fox on our sister site PJ Media he emphasized previous instances of Bernard speaking to the media about her abortion activism. Her own comments demonstrate a singular commitment to the issue of abortion, apart from, of course, how she actually performs the procedure.
The AP report also included arguments mentioned by Deputy Attorney General Cory Voight about Bernard’s actions, not only related to privacy laws but also to Bernard’s reporting obligations.
Deputy Attorney General Cory Voight argued Thursday that the board must address what he called “egregious violations” of patient privacy and Bernard’s failure to notify the Department of Child Services and the Indiana State Police of the rape.
“There has never been a case like this before the commission,” Voight said. “No doctor has ever been so brazen in pursuing his own goals.”
Voight asked Bernard why she discussed the Ohio girl’s case with a newspaper reporter and later in interviews with other media outlets, rather than referring to a hypothetical situation.
“I think it’s incredibly important for people to understand the real impact of this country’s abortion laws,” Bernard said. “I think it’s important for people to know what patients will have to go through with the legislation being passed, and hypothetical information doesn’t have that impact.”
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita also expressed concerns about Bernard’s rape report. She reported that the rapist was 17 years aged when in fact he was 27 years aged. This is not the first time Bernard has faced accusations of having to testify. Was accused by Indiana Right to Life in 2018 after gaining access to public records for failing to report minor abortions.
As with previous AP reporting, these reports omitted the arrest of illegal immigrant Gerson Fuentes for allegedly raping a 10-year-old victim who subsequently became pregnant. The magazine then published articles supporting Bernard, including: “Supporters of doctor and hospital disagree with Indiana penalty for speaking about 10-year-old’s abortion“
The Fuentes trial that Mia and Fox I followed, continued until July 5.
Thanks to my incredible team, an abortion doctor received maximum civil fines for violating three elements of privacy laws and received a public reprimand ordering him to be listed in a national database.
— AG Todd Rokita (@AGToddRokita) May 26, 2023
Read my office’s statement regarding the Medical Licensing Board’s decision: pic.twitter.com/yvHLzfH0Qo
— AG Todd Rokita (@AGToddRokita) May 26, 2023
Since previous AP reports also mentioned the case, the board has wide discretion over what reprimands can be issued. Although the board did not place restrictions on Bernard’s ability to practice medicine, Rokita’s office still considered the findings a victory.
In a statement, Rokita highlighted the way his office presented the case, which he said “involves patient privacy and the trust between doctor and patient that has been damaged. What if your child, parent or sibling was going through a difficult time? a sensitive medical crisis, and the doctor you thought was on your side went to the press for political reasons?”
He also noted that they “appreciate the Medical Licensing Board’s time and attention” and praised how his “team did a great job exposing the truth.”
