Editor’s note. Last week, NRL News Today reported on the latest court proceedings against abortionist Ulrich Klopfer. At issue in that case is the charge that Klopfer delayed reporting an abortion performed on a 13-year-old girl in South Bend, Indiana, in January 2013. Indiana law requires reports on abortions provided to girls younger than 14 to be submitted within three days. Klopfer submitted the report six months after the abortion. He has a hearing on August 1 in St. Joseph County.
Abortionist Ulrich Klopfer
As NRL News Today also reported previously, Klopfer is scheduled to go to trial in Lake County on January 26, 2015, on a similar charge for late reporting of an abortion on a 13-year-old girl performed in Gary, Indiana.
Earlier today, Indiana Right to Life, NRLC’s state affiliate, sent out the following good news about Klopfer.
_____________
GARY, IND. – A new state law that requires abortion doctors to document hospital admitting privileges with the state is barring one abortion doctor from doing abortions.
Indiana Right to Life and Lake County Right to Life obtained documentation from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) that informs Dr. Ulrich Klopfer that he cannot perform abortions because he failed to submit admitting privilege documentation as required by the new law.
In a letter dated June 27 from Randall Snyder, PT, MBA of the ISDH to Klopfer of Gary’s Friendship Family Planning facility, Klopfer is told
“This letter is to inform the above referenced clinic that it has not submitted admitting privilege documentation or agreements with the request for license renewal. While the requirement does not prevent the clinic from becoming licensed, no procedures may be performed in the clinic after June 30, 2014 until the clinic has a valid admitting privileges document or agreement per IC 16-34-2-4.5 for each physician performing procedures and the documents are/have been submitted to the Indiana State Department of Health…”
The letter also informs Klopfer of punishment if he fails to comply.
“Any physician performing procedures in the clinic without the required documentation and submission to the Indiana State Department of Health is subject to the criminal actions per statute.”
The state law affecting Klopfer was included in Senate Bill 292 by Senators John Waterman (District 39) and Jim Banks (District 17) during the 2014 Indiana General Assembly session. On March 25, Gov. Mike Pence signed the bill into law. The law took effect July 1.
Prior to the law’s enactment, Indiana abortion doctors were supposed to have admitting privileges, but the earlier-passed law did not require them to prove that they had privileges themselves or maintained a relationship with a back-up physician.
In addition to the Family Friendship Planning facility in Gary, Ind., Klopfer also runs abortion facilities in Fort Wayne and South Bend, Ind. Klopfer has not been able to perform abortions at his Fort Wayne location since Dec. 31, 2013 when he lost his back-up physician as required by a county ordinance. The ISDH indicates that Klopfer can continue abortions in South Bend, Ind. because he has submitted verified admitting privilege documentation for that location.
“We commend the Indiana State Department of Health for ensuring that the law is being followed,” said Mike Fichter, President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life. “Admitting privilege laws protect women if they experience complications after an abortion. If a woman has an emergency arise after an abortion, she can expect streamlined care when admitting privilege laws are being followed and there is a back-up physician in place.”
Fichter continued
“It is likely that Dr. Klopfer did not have legally-required admitting privileges through a back-up physician under the old law that required admitting privileges but never required proof of compliance. We’re thankful that no women, that we’re aware of, suffered a serious emergency or death while Dr. Klopfer was allegedly not complying with the law. Since Dr. Klopfer resides in Illinois, it is especially important that a physician be available to provide care should an emergency arise after an abortion.”
The letter to Klopfer can be read at www.irtl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/2014.06.27-Friendship-Preclusion-Ltr-copy.pdf