Late-Term Abortionist's Patient Drops Bombshell Testimony Of Illegal, Coerced Abortion

LifeSiteNews.com ^ | September 10, 2007

[monomaniac]

Late-Term Abortionist's Patient Drops Bombshell Testimony Of Illegal, Coerced Abortion

TOPEKA, Kansas, September 10, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A former patient of abortionist George R. Tiller gave jaw-dropping testimony before a joint interim legislative committee Friday, telling the detailed story of her late-term abortion experience that, as described, violated the Kansas ban on such abortions at nearly every turn.

"This is perhaps the most explosive testimony that has every been heard at the Capitol. Based on this testimony alone, Tiller's medical license should not survive to the end of the day," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "We demand that the Board of Healing Arts take immediate action to stop Tiller from victimizing any more people as this young lady was victimized."

The woman, Michelle Arnesto-Berg, appeared with her attorney, and told the committee of her abortion that took place at Tiller's Women's Health Care Services in May, 2003, while she was 18 and about to graduate from Highschool. Michelle related how her parents were upset to discover that she was pregnant and immediately began to pressure her into an abortion that she didn't want at 26 weeks into her pregnancy. Michelle's boyfriend opposed the abortion and had planned with Michelle to marry and raise their child together.

The following account is a reconstruction of events from Michelle's testimony:

Michelle's mother discovered George R. Tiller on the Internet and arranged for Michelle to have an abortion there the following Tuesday. After several days of nearly constant pressure and coercion, and fearing the loss of her family's love, Michelle relented to their demands.

Michelle and her mother became lost on the way to the abortion clinic and arrived two hours late for her appointment. Upon arrival, she was placed immediately into a group with several other women also receiving late-term abortions, who were in the process of watching a video about the Tiller abortion legacy.

From there, without having spoken to anyone or signed any paperwork, Michelle was taken to a room with an ultrasound machine. She was prevented from seeing the viewing screen by the clinic worker who did her ultrasound. At that time, abortionist Shelly Sella came in and administered the injection through her abdomen into her baby's heart that immediately killed her child. Sella is a California abortionist who travels to Wichita every third week to do abortions for Tiller at his late-term abortion mill.

After receiving the fatal injection, Michelle was sent to the receptionist to fill out her paperwork and consent forms. There was no effort before the injection to insure that Michelle was over 18, or that she suffered from any kind of condition that would meet the legal requirement of "substantial and irreversible impairment," either physically or mentally, for an abortion after 22 weeks. She told the committee that at no time was she asked medical questions, but was asked questions only of a social nature.

In the three to four minutes that she spent with Tiller during her three-day stay, he told her that if one of his children were in her situation, he would have them get an abortion as well. Another clinic worker told her that if she had the baby, her life would be over and that she would never be able to go to college.

Michelle delivered at the abortion clinic on the third day of the procedure. She refused to deliver her baby into a toilet bowl, as ordered by clinic workers. Instead she delivered her dead baby on the floor next to the commode, a sight that still haunts her to this day.

A minister from the Unity Church met with Michelle and told her that God would forgive her for her abortion, but he never asked her questions or even inquired about how she was doing.

Because Michelle's mother was set to graduate from college the following day, Michelle was released a day earlier than she normally would have been released, with the verbal promise that she would seek follow-up care in one week. However, because of turmoil in her family and embarrassment over her abortion, she did not get follow-up care. She stated that Tiller's office never called her to even ask how she was or if she had indeed made the follow-up appointment.

Earlier this year, Michelle requested her medical records from Women's Health Care Services and was shocked to learn that her healthy 26-week baby had been diagnosed as "not viable" by Sella. This designation allowed Tiller and his staff to circumvent the Kansas ban on abortions of viable babies after 21 weeks, a gestational milestone that is considered the earliest a baby can survive outside the womb if born.

Michelle did not receive a second opinion as required by law for post 21-week abortions, and she was never diagnosed with any condition that would have met the "substantial and irreversible impairment" standard in the law.

Michelle agreed to make her medical records available to the committee.

Rep. Jene Vickery commented that it seemed her abortion was done without any consideration of the laws of Kansas.

Michelle indicated that after reading the law that bans late-term abortions, she believes that the law failed to protect her and her baby from an unwanted abortion that has caused her painful consequences. She expressed that she is equally upset at her parents for pressuring her to abort and Tiller for allowing the abortion to take place.

"Michelle's emotional testimony is perhaps the most compelling evidence to date that Tiller has committed illegal abortions while the authorities have refused to enforce the law," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "Her testimony was a powerful indictment against those in Kansas that have the authority to enforce the law and protect people like Michelle, but instead look the other way. If they cannot feel shame over what their inaction has done to Michelle and her little baby, then may God have mercy on their souls. If this isn't the end of George Tiller, then there is no justice in Kansas."

Click here to listen to unedited file of Michelle’s actual testimony:
http://operationrescue.org/audio/Michelle.WMA

[art_rocks]

Your slandering his parents who didn’t want the abortion. His parents were offering a place to stay, and babysitting while she went to school.

[art_rocks]

It wasn’t in this story, but an earlier story where his parents offered the help.

[Doomonyou]

There are days when I genuinely find myself wishing -- if only fleetingly -- that I'd never learned how to read.

I hear you. I think I may be sick.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Matthew 18:6 “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Mark 9:42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.”

[AuH2ORepublican]

Vindication of Phil Kline? This is the abortionist that the Kansas RINOs protected by electing Paul Morrison as AG.

[Non-Sequitur]

Vindication of Phil Kline?

Don't know. Kansas abortion law is far too lax, and Tiller knows all the tricks. A late term can be done with the agreement of two doctors, and apparently Tiller had no problems getting that with this Dr. Sella around. In addtion, he had a number of physicians almost on retainer, one of the kinds of violations Morrison is prosecuting. Under 18, the abortion needs the approval of at least one parent, and this girl's mother was certainly willing to give her OK. Did Tiller violate the spirit of the law? Almost certainly, based on this. Did he violate the letter of the law? Probably not. Based on the story he seems to have covered his tracks by getting another physician to swear the fetus wasn't viable and of course no post mortum was done. So even Phill probably couldn't have prosecuted this one. But if you want to put people like Tiller out of business and keep them out, all you have to do is tighten up the law and remove the loopholes. Why shouldn't more that one second opinion be needed before a late term abortion? Why shouldn't an autopsy be required to establish that the reasons given why the fetus wasn't viable are, in fact, accurate? If you can't get rid of it entirely then at least make it much more difficult. Why isn't Phill and our GOP leadership even trying to do that?

[AuH2ORepublican]

So Kansas RINOs turned their backs on Phil Kline because he tried to prosecute abortionists instead of trying to get tougher legislation passed? I didn’t know KS RINOs were in favor of tougher anti-abortion laws and merely disagreed in principle with the enforcement of vague laws. Of course, the RINOs placed Morrison in charge, and thus won’t have to worry about any abortion laws (vague or otherwise) being enforced.

[Non-Sequitur]

So Kansas RINOs turned their backs on Phil Kline because he tried to prosecute abortionists instead of trying to get tougher legislation passed?

Tried to prosecute? After 4 years in office Phill ineptly files some misdemeanor charges as a political stunt, and they are promptly tossed out on a technicality that a first year law student could have avoided. That may sound like a tough prosecutor to you but it looks like an inept fool to me.

I didn’t know KS RINOs were in favor of tougher anti-abortion laws and merely disagreed in principle with the enforcement of vague laws.

I haven't heard Phill or Kris come out with any suggestions for tightening up the loopholes so I guess they must be RINOs too?

Of course, the RINOs placed Morrison in charge, and thus won’t have to worry about any abortion laws (vague or otherwise) being enforced.

And if Morrison's charges stick and Tiller goes to trial and gets convicted then what will you say? The RINOs did what Fightin' Phill Kline couldn't?

[MrB]

The hatred for Phil Kline is based in the abortion issue only.

A friend of mine had a conversation with someone that was spitting vitriol over Kline. My friend ended up being on the receiving end of the hate because she was able to present facts that refuted this woman’s hatred.

It’s clear that the Kline hater probably had an abortion herself and was bitter and ashamed. When you do something you know to be vile, you can handle it by getting right with the Lord, or you can spend the rest of your life justifying it.

[Nomorjer Kinov]

My error then. I didn’t know the boy’s parent’s had lobbied for life.

[TradicalRC]

Man, its a sad world.