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Dr. Caitlin Bernard set for hearing before Indiana Medical Licensing Board this week

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed a complaint with the Indiana Medical Licensing Board about Dr. Caitlin Bernard in November 2022.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed a complaint with the Indiana Medical Licensing Board about Dr. Caitlin Bernard in November 2022.

Dr. Caitlin Bernard’s medical license is potentially on the line as she is set to appear this week before the state Medical Licensing Board.

Last year, Bernard provided abortion care to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio,  which made national news. Almost immediately, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita went on television and threatened Bernard’s medical license with no apparent evidence of any wrongdoing.

A judge  would later say Rokita’s actions violated state law.

Eventually, after months of investigation, Rokita  filed a complaint with the Medical Licensing Board, alleging that Bernard failed to immediately contact Indiana authorities about providing an abortion to a minor, as required by state law.

Bernard  was in contact with Ohio authorities, where the girl lived, and contacted Indiana authorities within three days. And records show that the doctor  filed the proper paperwork with the state after providing care to the child.

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at  bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at  @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon J. Smith has previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KBIA Radio in Columbia, MO. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, IL as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.