KS Doctor Acquitted in Late-Term Abortion Trial

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 05:17:21 PM EST
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Congrats to Wichita criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat. A Kansas jury today acquitted his client, Dr. George Tiller, on 19 counts of performing late-term abortions. They deliberated for under an hour.

"Dr. Tiller and his family are just happy it's over, with an eminently just result," said his defense attorney, Dan Monnat. "This whole trial was political." He called the jury "these six brave souls" for not being swayed by the political consideration of the abortion debate in Kansas, where it has occasionally devolved into violence.

The charges: [More...]

Tiller was charged with 19 criminal misdemeanor counts of violating a Kansas law that requires a second opinion from a doctor with no legal or financial ties to any physician who terminates the pregnancies of women whose fetuses are considered "viable" -- or able to survive outside the womb. That generally happens around six months' gestation.

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KS Doctor Acquitted in Late-Term Abortion Trial | 21 comments (21 topical)

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Dr. Tiller (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by jharp on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 05:38:39 PM EST

"said the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, a Presbyterian minister and pacifist who has worked with Operation Rescue. "We were thrilled that George Tiller even went to trial."

Sure wish we could use curse words here because it utterly disgusts me that Dr. Tiller was put through this.

And Rev. Mahoney words tell a lot. They are thrilled with what they put Dr. Tiller through, whether he was innocent or not.

Dirty rotten stinking phony pieces of slime.

He's not out of the woods yet: (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 05:56:05 PM EST

Jury finds Kan. doctor not guilty in abortion case
2 hours ago
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Jurors have acquitted one of the nation's few late-term abortion providers of violating Kansas law requiring an independent second opinion for the procedure.
But moments after the verdict was announced Friday, the state's medical board made public a complaint against Dr. George Tiller on similar allegations.

Late term abortion has been used (4.50 / 4) (#3)
by hairspray on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 06:49:31 PM EST

by the anti-abortion crowd in ways that are not only dishonest but criminal. There are several serious medical conditions (anencephaly, for example, in which the fetus lacks the top of its head) that are best treated by that kind of an abortion if the parents want that. Anyone can google that term and see pictures of a baby with that condition. Abortion may be recommended when this is discovered to avoid having the mother carry the fetus to term and then deliver normally. Without the cranium the mechanics of labor and delivery are seriously compromised so avoiding labor is often recommended. Research has found that carrying the fetus to term and trying to harvest the organs has not been particularly successful.

Late term abortion is also used (2.33 / 3) (#4)
by daryl herbert on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 09:41:28 PM EST

in ways 100% consistent with how anti-abortion activists portray it (i.e., as done for pure convenience)

It would be interesting to look at Dr. Tiller's records to see just how many of those late term abortions were hydrocephalics. I'm guessing zero.

Casey v. Planned Parenthood, the final word (for now) on the legality of abortion & restrictions thereon, says the states can impose reasonable restrictions.

It's a shame Dr. Tiller failed to follow the legitimate rules set by his state's government. He should have to answer to the medical board. Professionals like doctors and lawyers don't get to unilaterally exempt themselves from rules they don't like. I don't think Dr. Tiller should be suspended from practicing medicine for these minor violations, but he should have to answer for them. Rules matter.

[ Parent ]

Like When? (5.00 / 2) (#5)
by Blue Jean on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 09:53:28 PM EST

I live in Kansas, and I know Dr. Tiller has already gone through more persecution in the last six months than most people suffer in a lifetime. If you stop by his office, he'll show you plenty of pictures of fetuses that have no brains, whose hearts develop outside their chests, whose spinal cords are open, etc.

And I guarantee you there will be NO accounts from women who say "Y'know, I got through seven months, but none of my dresses fit any more, so enough of this, I'm getting an abortion."

[ Parent ]

done for pure convenience (5.00 / 4) (#6)
by jharp on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 10:27:09 PM EST

Do you have any evidence to support your claim.?

I don't believe you.

"It's a shame Dr. Tiller failed to follow the legitimate rules"

And what is the evidence that he didn't follow the rules? Apparently the jury saw it differently.

[ Parent ]

For the life of me, I don't know how anyone (4.25 / 4) (#7)
by Inspector Gadget on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 10:48:54 PM EST

else's reproductive choices are your business. How does someone else's decision not to have a child impact your life?

How do you feel about the death penalty?

[ Parent ]

How about (none / 0) (#9)
by Wile ECoyote on Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 09:19:04 AM EST

when taxpayer money is used?

[ Parent ]

It's very doubtful that any (5.00 / 2) (#10)
by Dark Avenger on Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 10:22:12 AM EST

'taxpayer' money was used for the abortions, or are you objecting to the waste of taxpayer money for the trial?

[ Parent ]

Prove it. (none / 0) (#13)
by Wile ECoyote on Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 01:28:14 PM EST

[ Parent ]

You brought up the possibility (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by Dark Avenger on Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 05:48:21 PM EST

find something to back your statement up.

[ Parent ]

: God the freaks always say such things (none / 0) (#21)
by Militarytracy on Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 08:02:52 AM EST

I have known numerous women who have received abortion services in the past ten years and none of them had any financial aid in paying for the procedure. I don't even think an avenue/provider for any sort of aid exists.

[ Parent ]

Taxpayer Money is Used in Death Penalty (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by Inspector Gadget on Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 12:13:31 PM EST

cases. Between the trial costing more, the death row decade, and the procedure, you should be screaming for an end to your taxpayer dollars being used to take a life.

[ Parent ]

That is correct (none / 0) (#12)
by Wile ECoyote on Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 01:27:06 PM EST

so I have a right to complain about the use of it for the death penalty.

[ Parent ]

But (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by squeaky on Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 01:33:04 PM EST

Isn't your salary on the taxpayer? IMO, you are the last person that gets to pick and choose or complain.

[ Parent ]

Heh (none / 0) (#15)
by Wile ECoyote on Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 03:23:21 PM EST

I am done with the gov't. But LOL gov't employees can't complain? Someone shut up Barney Frank.

[ Parent ]

Barney Frank (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by squeaky on Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 04:07:20 PM EST

Is representing his constituents, that is our system. You were the one complaining about your tax dollars, guess what, you are a minority and we are in a democracy.

[ Parent ]

Constitutional (none / 0) (#19)
by Wile ECoyote on Sun Mar 29, 2009 at 06:39:33 PM EST

republic. Democracy is mob rule. You really want mob rule?

[ Parent ]

: "mob rule": (none / 0) (#20)
by jondee on Sun Mar 29, 2009 at 08:44:25 PM EST

what the ruling class calls a situation in which it dosnt have the last word at all times.

[ Parent ]

Does (none / 0) (#16)
by Wile ECoyote on Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 03:23:46 PM EST

that go for people on Welfare also?

[ Parent ]

you're a liar and a liar. (4.25 / 4) (#8)
by cpinva on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 11:33:01 PM EST

Late term abortion is also used
in ways 100% consistent with how anti-abortion activists portray it (i.e., as done for pure convenience)

you cite no confirmable, third-party evidence to support your claim, because you know there isn't any. you're a liar.

It's a shame Dr. Tiller failed to follow the legitimate rules set by his state's government.

the jury in the trial said otherwise. you know this. you're a liar.

you can guess all day long. that, and a buck, will get you a small coffee at mcd's.

you and your ilk are just really too stupid for words to adequately describe.

last time i checked, neither you nor anyone else was being forced to have an abortion.

do as your parents told you, mind your own business, and let these women and their health care provider's mind their's.

[ Parent ]