Indiana suspends license of former abortion provider

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Medical Licensing Board has suspended the license of a former abortion provider.

The board suspended 71-year-old Ulrich Klopfer early Friday for six months and issued a $3,000 fine, The Journal Gazette (http://bit.ly/2bDWA3r ) reported.

The board found him guilty of five of nine charges, including one related to late reporting of abortions performed on two girls under the age of 14. Two charges referenced sedation and medical practices, and two others involved state law requiring informed consent 18 hours before the procedure on a handful of women.

"Justice has been done," said Cathie Humbarger, executive director at Allen County Right to Life. "We're glad that he's been held accountable for the inferior medical treatment that he has been responsible for over many, many years."

Klopfer has performed tens of thousands of procedures in Fort Wayne, Gary and South Bend over more than 40 years but isn't currently practicing. All three of his abortion clinics have closed, but he told the panel he wants to reopen.

Board member Rebecca Moredock-Mueller said Klopfer had a nonchalant attitude and lacked sound medical judgment.

"The thing that bothered me most was his professional incompetence," she said.

Klopfer's attorney, Mary Watts, said the case is about forms and not about the standard of care patients received.

"He provided good medical care for his patients and did his best to follow the law," she said. "It's a question of documentation."

Klopfer can petition for reinstatement in six months if he completes a list of evaluations, continuing medical education credits and child abuse training.

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Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net