Loss Of License Ordered In Kansas Abortion-Referrals Case

TOPEKA, Kan. — A state administrative judge has ordered the revocation of a Kansas doctor's license over her referrals of young patients to the late Dr. George Tiller for late-term abortions, concluding their care was "seriously jeopardized" by inadequate mental health examinations.

In an order that became public Tuesday, the judge said Dr. Ann Kristen Neuhaus failed to meet accepted standards of care in performing exams on 11 patients, ages 10 to 18, who had late-term abortions at Tiller's clinic in Wichita from July to November 2003. The judge said Neuhaus' records did not contain the information necessary to show she did thorough exams.

Tiller needed an opinion from another doctor to terminate the pregnancies because Kansas law restricted late-term abortions at the time. Neuhaus said each patient's mental health issues were serious enough to allow each procedure to go forward.

More