District Attorney Kathleen DeLaney sent the “cease and desist” letter to Republican Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita on behalf of obstetrician-gynecologist Caitlin Bernard, who performed a medical abortion on the girl. The letter says Rokita’s statements Wednesday on Fox News “cast Dr. Bernard in a false light and allege professional misconduct.” DeLaney said the doctor could file a defamation claim against Rokita if she doesn’t comply. Rokita told Fox that his office was investigating whether Bernard violated medical privacy laws by speaking about the victim to the Indianapolis Star and said he did not notify authorities of suspected child abuse. He did not offer specific allegations of wrongdoing. Records obtained by The Associated Press and other local media show Bernard filed the report on July 2, which is within the state’s required three-day reporting period for an abortion performed on a girl younger than 16. “We are particularly concerned that, given the controversial political context of the statements, such inflammatory accusations have the potential to incite harassment or violence from the public, which could prevent Dr. “, the letter states. A 27-year-old man has been charged with raping the girl, confirming a case that has been scrutinized by Republican politicians and some media outlets. Those reactions intensified when Democratic President Joe Biden expressed sympathy for the girl when he signed an executive order protecting access to abortion last week. “Like all mail, it will be reviewed if and when it arrives. Regardless, no false or misleading statements have been made,” Kelly Stevenson, a spokeswoman in Rokita’s office, said via email. Bernard tweeted Friday that she hopes “to be able to share my story soon.” “It’s been a difficult week, but my colleagues and I will continue to provide health care ethically, lovingly, and bravely every day,” he wrote. Dr. Diana Contreras, chief health care officer at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, issued a statement saying, “No doctor should be harassed, intimidated or criminalized for doing their job. It is unconscionable and unacceptable and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
Arleigh Rodgers is a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative corps. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places reporters in local newsrooms to report on undercover issues. Follow Arleigh Rodgers on Twitter.
