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Kansas Grand Jury Subpoenas Dr. Tiller’s Patients’ Medical Records

A Kansas Grand Jury issued two subpoenas last week for the medical records of approximately 2,000 women who sought abortions at Dr. Tiller’s clinic within the past five years. The 15-member panel asked for medical records, with names removed, of those patients who sought or obtained abortions after their 21st week of pregnancy from July 1, 2003 to Jan. 18, 2008, according to the Wichita Eagle.

Attorneys for Dr. Tiller filed a motion Monday with Sedgwick County to block the subpoenas. They stated that the subpoenas should be blocked to protect Dr. Tiller’s patients’ right to privacy, and that to gather all the requested records and remove names and identifying information would place an undue burden on the clinic. They also argue that the grand jury investigation into Dr. Tiller is unconstitutional.

Dr. George Tiller is one of the few late-term abortion providers available for women with troubled pregnancies and complicated health problems. This investigation is the result of a citizen petition circulated by anti-abortion extremist groups. Kansas is one of six states that allow citizens to petition for a grand jury to convene. Previous investigations into Dr. Tiller’s clinic have not produced evidence of any wrong-doing.

You can help! Send Dr. Tiller and his staff a letter of support, or donate to his legal defense fund today!

Sources:

Wichita Eagle 1/29/08; Associated Press 1/28/08; Feminist Daily Newswire 1/9/08

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