Caitlin Bernard, the sole source for The Indianapolis Star’s story about an alleged 10-year-old rape victim who went out of state for an abortion, is facing repercussions under federal law, according to Fox News.
“A source familiar to the situation” said Indiana abortionist Bernard’s employer “has filed a HIPAA violation against her for sharing details about the young patient,” Aishah Hasnie reported, referring to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which was passed in 1996 “to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.”
The Fox News report added that it is still unclear whether the girl was forced to go to Indiana for legal reasons or simply referred to Bernard by the unnamed Ohio child-abuse doctor mentioned in The Indianapolis Star’s story. The original story said the Ohio doctor referred the girl to Bernard since she could not legally have an abortion in Ohio, but state Attorney General Dave Yost said Monday night that Ohio law would have allowed the girl to have an abortion in the state.
The story was criticized for using Bernard’s word as its sole source, especially in light of her track record as a pro-abortion activist who has spoken to the press numerous times. Bernard has even sued to block an Indiana law prohibiting dismemberment abortions, although the law has been allowed to take effect since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The other plaintiff in the lawsuit, Katherine McHugh, was also quoted in the Indianapolis Star’s article.
Yost said on Monday night that there was “not a whisper” among state law enforcement that the alleged rape had occured, but the Columbus Dispatch reported on Wednesday that 27-year-old Gershon Fuentes, who is believed to be in the country illegally, has been arrested and charged with rape. According to the Dispatch, police say Fuentes confessed to raping the girl at least twice.
