Abortion Practitioner Failed to Report Statutory Rape of 13-Year-Old Girl

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Sep 18, 2013   |   9:56AM   |   Fort Wayne, IN

An Indiana abortion practitioner is coming under fire today for failing to file a timely report on the abortion he did on a 13-year-old girl who was victimized by statutory rape.

Allen County Right to Life, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, filed complaints today with the Indiana Attorney General’s office and the Indiana Medical Licensing Board over the Fort Wayne abortion doctor failing to properly report an abortion on a 13-year-old as required by state law. The age of the patient surfaced as ACRTL director Cathie Humbarger reviewed publicly-available terminated pregnancy reports from the state health department.

The report shows that a 13-year-old had an abortion performed by Dr. Ulrich Klopfer, of the Fort Wayne Women’s Health Organization abortion facility, on February 7. The Indiana Department of Health reported receiving the report on July 25, not within three days of the abortion procedure as specified by law.

According to Indiana abortion law, a physician performing an abortion on a patient less than 14 years of age must file a state-issued form within three days of the abortion with the state department of health and the department of child services. Indiana law specifies that failure to report is punishable with a Class B misdemeanor.

Humbarger told LifeNews today that her group filed complaints along with sidewalk counselor Evelyn Witte.

“It’s heartbreaking to learn that a 13-year-old became pregnant and now must live with the pain of an abortion for the rest of her life, but it’s doubly-heartbreaking that Dr. Klopfer’s failure to report the abortion may have allowed the girl’s molester to walk free,” she said.

“In Indiana, sex with a person under 14 is recognized as child molesting, regardless of the male’s age. No 13-year-old should have their childhood ripped out from under them like this young girl had. I call on the Attorney General to immediately investigate Dr. Klopfer’s failure to report this abortion. Sadly, this is not the first time I have filed a complaint over Klopfer’s failure to report an abortion on a 13-year-old within the time frame required by law yet he still practices today. His failure to report is appalling,” she continued.

Mike Fichter, president of Indiana Right to Life, weighed in as well.

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“Dr. Klopfer’s failure to report this abortion on a 13-year-old shows a blatant disregard for Indiana law, not to mention a lack of concern for the patient’s wellbeing and safety,” he said.

He told LifeNews:  “Indiana law is very clear about what needs to be reported, to whom and when reporting must take place regarding abortions on girls under 14 years of age. The law, instructions for reporting and violation details are printed at the top of each terminated pregnancy report. Klopfer’s failure to report this abortion raises serious red flags about his abortion business. If he fails to send in a one-page form when he does an abortion on a 13-year-old, how can anyone know if he is following state abortion law in other areas such as informed consent, facility standards and appropriately determining the age of the baby before he aborts him or her? We urge Attorney General Zoeller and the Medical Licensing Board to swiftly examine this matter and take appropriate action.”

View documents by clicking on the name: Humbarger complaint, Witte complaint, Terminated Pregnancy Report