Quote:
Originally Posted by scottw
smearing the doctor? that's funny
creating a story during the confirmation process that a Supreme Court nominee ran rape trains is smearing someone....
saying that your office will make sure all of the reporting, paperwork, HIPAA was done properly regarding a 10 year old transported across state lines for an abortion in what is now national news thanks to a couple of political activists is ....doing your job....
you can see the difference...right?
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You’re wrong
1. “The people telling you the 10-year-old could get an abortion in Ohio are ignorant or lying,” White wrote, noting Ohio allowed no exceptions for rape, incest, or age of the mother. Doctors might conclude a pregnant girl so young met the statute’s exceptions for risk to the mother’s life or “serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function,” but, he argued, it was far from clear legally, and a lawyer would be a “fool” to advise a doctor to go forward and risk the loss of their license, lawsuits, and prison.
2. “If so-called doctors are covering up child rape, they need to be prosecuted,” Watters declared, as Bernard’s photo was displayed with the label, “FAILURE TO REPORT?”
“So, is a criminal charge next and will Dr. Bernard lose her license?” he eagerly asked Rokita.
Rokita assured Watters that his office did indeed plan to burn the witch.
“We’re gathering the information, 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” the child’s abuse, the attorney general vowed. “I’m not letting it go.”
“DOC FAILED TO REPORT ABORTION OF ABUSE VICTIM,” the Fox News chyron declared Bernard guilty while her picture split the screen with Rokita.
Rokita made good on his pledge Thursday, issuing a statement declaring his office’s investigation into Bernard with potential criminal prosecution, action against her medical license, and a HIPAA violation.
The Washington Post’s Radley Balko, who frequently covers criminal justice issues, tweeted that Fox News was “either actively trying to get [Bernard] killed, or just don’t give a damn that they’re putting her in danger.”
3. Ryan Mears, the chief prosecutor for Marion County, Indiana, was highly critical of Rokita investigating Bernard when it was known that the rape had already been reported in Ohio, telling Sarnoff that the state law requires abuse to be reported, but “does not particularly state that Indiana law enforcement has to be notified.”
“It’s unfortunate that a doctor who provides legal medical treatment to a victim who needs help is now subject to this level of intimidation,” he added, which “erodes trust and the public’s confidence in institutions.”
4. Bernard did make a timely report.
On Thursday, various Indiana media outlets began posting documents they had obtained in response to public records requests, showing Barnard had filed her report on July 2, two days after the girl’s June 30 abortion (Indiana law required her to report by July 3).
Watters has yet to acknowledge that the witch hunt announced and promoted on his show was a sham.
“Bernard did no more than identify the girl’s age,” wrote Sarnoff, not her name, exact birthdate, physical description, address, date of treatment, or other identifying detail. “[I]t would be nearly impossible to identify a patient by their age alone…the sharing of an anonymized vignette about a patient’s medical treatments generally does not offend HIPAA.”
There are still unanswered questions about this case, but the witch hunts did nothing to spare the girl further suffering, nor did they alter the reality that we cannot morally or ethically demand that a 10-year-old give birth.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device