KS Abortionist Neuhaus “can’t pay” but will get appeal

by Kathy Ostrowski

The Kansas state Board of Healing Arts will likely never be repaid the $93,000.00 it already spent revoking the medical license of abortionist Kris Neuhaus. And it’s hard to believe the ongoing expenses of the district court and the Board involved in her appeal will ever be reimbursed either.

The protracted medical license revocation action against Neuhaus was based on ‘psych referrals’ she made for 11 teens receiving late-term Wichita abortions in 2003. The Board spent $75,000.00 for expert testimony and review of Neuhaus’ records for those cases, finding that she failed in multiple ways to meet medical standards.

District Judge Franklin Theis is presiding over Neuhaus’ appeal of that revocation, which is in the initial stages. The Board issued its final revocation order July 5, 2012, allowing a delay in repayment, but then asked the court to enforce the Board’s right to require a bond. This was the only time in Theis’ memory, he said, that the Board had asked for a bond in this kind of proceeding.

Abortion attorneys argue Neuhaus is impoverished and would not be able to pay the $93,000.00 “in the foreseeable future.”

               They said she could only afford a bond of $100, which Judge Theis said “would be a joke.”

Theis then ruled that Neuhaus merely “sign a statement saying she’ll pay any judgment imposed by the courts.”

Neuhaus was uncovered in 2006 as the sole source of second opinions for abortions performed after viability by George Tiller. Under the law, totally “independent” referrals would give proof that the abortion was needed to prevent irreversible and substantial bodily damage- or death– to the mother. Although Tiller escaped a misdemeanor conviction in March 2009 for repeatedly using Neuhaus’ services, the Healing Board proceeded with license revocation filings for Tiller until his murder in May 2009.

Although the Board has regrettably taken no disciplinary actions against other physician associates of Tiller who also used Neuhaus’ referrals, they did proceed with revocation against Neuhaus –a licensee they twice officially called “a danger to the public” and first began to discipline fifteen years ago. (see Neuhaus Board history here)

Neuhaus has no viable medical practice and for the last few years held a strictly limited license until it was revoked. According to sworn testimony, she has worked at a variety of part time positions including a blood bank, laser hair removal salon and an indigent clinic. Yet, under a “due process” claim, she will continue to eat up Court and Board expenses during an appeal process for which she has virtually no chance of winning.

The awful irony is that the court is bending over backward to give Neuhaus the due process that thousands of children and their mothers were denied in Kansas clinics.