Today, representatives from Indiana Right to Life and Allen County Right to Life held a press conference to announce 487 complaints being filed against the Fort Wayne abortion doctor, Dr. Ulrich Klopfer. Each complaint is the result of a termination of pregnancy report containing errors or omissions by Klopfer. Complaints are being filed with the Indiana Attorney General’s office.
The complaints addressed more than 3,000 errors and omissions uncovered on publicly-available terminated pregnancy reports spanning abortions performed July 2011 through June 2013. Indiana law requires abortion doctors to file terminated pregnancy reports with the Indiana State Department of Health for each abortion performed. Indiana law also specifies that failure to complete and submit the report on time carries a Class B misdemeanor charge.
Allen County Right to Life and Indiana Right to Life routinely request and review terminated pregnancy reports from the state after the filing period closes. As each organization reviewed the documents, they found multiple errors and omissions on the reports submitted by Klopfer. Errors ranged from including the wrong address of the abortion facility to stating that the post-fertilization age of the fetus was 88 weeks. Omissions ranged from no county of pregnancy termination listed to no date of the patient’s last normal menses.
Complainants are requesting the immediate suspension of Klopfer’s medical license pending a full investigation. Additionally, a meeting is being requested of the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office as the local prosecutor carries the authority to bring criminal charges against Klopfer.
“The quantity and type of errors and omissions speaks volumes about Dr. Klopfer’s abortion business,” stated Cathie Humbarger, Allen County Right to Life Executive Director. “Every termination of pregnancy report in 2012 and 2013 listed the address where Dr. Klopher’s old abortion business was, a site where he hasn’t practiced in seven years. Every report during those years also stated that the baby was age 88 weeks after fertilization. An elephant could develop in 88 weeks. Dr. Klopfer’s errors and omissions are simply careless. These errors and omissions raise serious concerns over how Dr. Klopfer runs his abortion practice.”
“We call on the Attorney General, the Indiana Medical Licensing Board and Allen County Prosecutor to pay immediate attention to these 487 complaints,” said Mike Fichter, President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life. “Any business owner in Indiana will tell you that he or she has to abide by state laws governing their industry and that penalties are issued for violations. We are asking for Dr. Klopfer’s abortion business to be subject to oversight and enforcement measures as well.”
“Bringing these errors and omissions to light brings transparency to an industry often shrouded in secrecy,” stated Dr. Peter Scaer, Board President of Allen County Right to Life. “Our community deserves to know what goes on at Dr. Klopfer’s facility. Last month Allen County Right to Life’s Executive Director alerted the community to Dr. Klopfer’s failure to report a 13-year-old abortion on time as required by law. This month we’re reporting on 487 complaints against Dr. Klopfer. It’s concerning to think ‘what’s next?’ if he’s allowed to continue practicing at his abortion business.”
The complaints are being filed today by 17 concerned individuals in the Fort Wayne area.
View a Consumer Complaint and Termination of Pregnancy Report example here: https://www.irtl.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Complaint-and-TPR-Example.pdf.
