During a segment on Fox “News'” Jesse Watters’ show, Indiana Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita said the state will launch an investigation into the doctor that ‘helped a 10-year-old rape victim get an abortion after she was denied one under Ohio’s abortion ban, using Indiana’s reporting laws to go after the doctor because abortion itself is still legal in the state.’ Abortion is still legal in Indiana up until 22 weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions for medical emergencies.
“We’re gathering the evidence as we speak, and we’re going to fight this to the end, including looking at her licensure if she failed to report. And in Indiana it’s a crime … to intentionally not report,” state Attorney General Todd Rokita said on Fox News on Wednesday night. “This is a child, and there’s a strong public interest in understanding if someone under the age of 16 or under the age of 18 or really any woman is having abortion in our state. And then if a child is being sexually abused, of course parents need to know. Authorities need to know. Public policy experts need to know.”
Under Indiana law, physicians are required to report any abortions performed—whether through surgical or medication abortion—for patients under age 16 to the state health department and child services agency within three days after the abortion took place.
The state also has mandatory reporting requirements for physicians and other individuals to report child abuse, such as the girl’s rape, and failing to report constitutes a misdemeanor.
According to police testimony cited by the Dispatch, the rape was reported to child services in Ohio, which is how police learned of the crime.
Indianapolis obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Caitlin Bernard was first quoted by the Indianapolis Star about being contacted by a doctor in Ohio when the child couldn’t get an abortion there because she was just past the state’s six-week ban. After Republicans questioned the veracity of the claim in recent days, the alleged perpetrator was charged with rape and arraigned Wednesday in Columbus.
Police in the case said the girl’s mother contacted authorities June 22 and the abortion was performed in Indianapolis June 30.
Indiana law requires the health care provider to transmit a state form to the Indiana Department of Health and the Department of Child Services within three day after an abortion is performed on anyone under 16 years of age. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor.
The Indiana Democratic Party released a statement on Rokita:
“Attorney General Todd Rokita is looking to sue a doctor for saving a young girl’s life. The Indiana Republican Party believes rape survivors – including minors – should be forced to give birth to their rapist’s baby. Their agenda is dangerous and too extreme for Indiana.”
Ohio CapitAl Journal
