Indiana abortionist must find new back-up physician after skirting sex abuse laws

Ulrich Klopfer, an abortionist in Fort Wayne, Indiana, must find a new back-up physician (“Physician Designee,” according to Indiana law) after he abdicated the role due to Klopfer’s unethical handling of 13-year-old pregnant girls. Indiana requires that abortionists have a back-up physician to assist with possible complications related to abortion and to be a source of admitting privileges at a nearby hospital in case hospital admittance is required by the victim.

Klopfer’s back-up physician was actually a pro-life OB/GYN, Dr. Geoffrey Cly, who agreed to partner with Klopfer as a Physician Designee in order to assist with the care of women whose abortions Klopfer might botch. Cly says it was his pro-life conviction that motivated him to agree to be Klopfer’s back-up doctor, but after he witnessed the abortionist’s handling of underage girls seeking abortion, Cly knew he could no longer partner with Klopfer.

Klopfer admitted to abortion advocates at RH Reality Check that he skirts Indiana rape reporting laws by advising girls under the age of 14 to seek abortions out-of-state to avoid having to report their sexual abuse. From RH Reality Check:

Klopfer said he complied with the law, though he admitted he did not notify the child services department in addition to the health department, which goes against the statute. The doctor said he expected the departments to communicate with each other. But due to the risks inherent in the mandatory notification laws, he said he now advises minor patients and their parents that they have the option to go to Illinois or Ohio—bordering states—if they want to avoid having their abortions reported. He estimated that up to a third of patients take that option.

Yesterday, Cly wrote the following letter to Klopfer, which can be found in full here, abdicating his role (emphasis added):

Many people have wondered why a Pro-Life OB/Gyn such as myself, would provide back up emergency coverage for patients who had terminations. And, as I stated in my initial correspondence to you, I was willing to serve as your Physician Designee because “patients’ well-being and safety is of utmost importance to me.” Patients well-being and safety remains my top priority. However, recent information has revealed to me that you have placed other things higher in priority than the health and safety of your patients.

A November 25 news article in the South Bend Tribune lists three abortions that you incorrectly reported per state statutes to both the Indiana State Department of Health and the Department of Child Services concerning girls under 14 years old obtaining abortions from you. According to a December 1 article in the same paper, you admitted to failing to correctly report two of those abortions. Furthermore, you told an online news publication, RH Reality Check, that you now advise girls under 14 and their parents or guardians that they can go to Illinois or Ohio to avoid the under 14 reporting requirement for child sexual abuse.

Your failure to report 13-year-old abortions properly and your subsequent admission to advising parents to avoid state laws is alarming. According to Indiana law, sex with a girl under 14 – regardless of the perpetrator’s age – is child abuse. Your advice to cross state lines for abortions may help child abuse to continue and a perpetrator or abuser to walk free. This advice blatantly disregards patients well-being and safety measures that are so important to me as a practicing OB/GYN and the medical field as a whole. I am saddened to think that these young girls may still be in a situation where they are in danger of being forced into further sexual abuse and emotional trauma.

These choices have demonstrated a disregard for the health and safety of patients. I firmly believe your decisions completely undermined over coverage agreement and therefore I am terminating my status as your Physician Designee in Allen County, Indiana, and as your state-required local physician with admitting privileges. These terminations will be effective December 31, 2013.

According to Indiana Right to Life, Klopfer will no longer be in compliance with Indiana state law unless he finds a new Physician Designee by the start of business in January.