A state attorney in North Dakota won't prosecute an unlicensed abortionist for a Class B felony.
Lori Lynn Thorndike
Lori Lynn Thorndike of Colorado has been performing abortions at the Red River Women's Clinic in Fargo with an expired license. (See earlier story) But Operation Rescue's Cheryl Sullinger, who has communicated with officials in North Dakota, says the state has no plans to file criminal charges against the physician.
"The state's attorney admits that she did do several illegal abortions in September when she was there under a lapsed license, but he felt like because she was licensed in other states that...it was okay," Sullinger explains.
But she points out that a physician must be licensed in each state they practice. Otherwise, they are practicing medicine without a license, which is a Class B felony.
"We think that that is only going to encourage abortionists who already believe that they're above the law to commit other illegal acts," she notes.
But State Attorney Birch Burdick's decision to not take action will not be the final word as Sullinger reports that her group is "working with other pro-life groups in North Dakota to try to get this case up to the attorney general's office."
Meanwhile, some lawmakers who helped pass the laws to protect women are unhappy about the situation.
Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: November 23, 2010
