58 PRACTICE TRENDS JUNE 15, 2009 • FAMILY PRACTICE NEWS Violence Toward Providers a Concern

Study: Harassment has been a top contributor to a precipitous decline in the number of might not have received it,” ACOG said abortion providers over the years. in a statement. decline in the number of abortion providers. Social stigma and marginalization, pro- The statement called the killing “chill- fessional isolation, and peer pressure also ing and deeply disturbing,” noting that it BY BETSY BATES obstetrics and gynecology at the Uni- factor into the decline, the study found. occurred as the nation’s leaders are versity of Rochester (N.Y.). Echoing Dr. Stanwood’s predictions, searching for a “middle ground” on the he last month of Dr. The loss of Dr. Tiller, who Dr. Stan- many observers believe that extremist topic of abortion. “There is no middle George Tiller, a family physician wood described as a careful, compas- anti-abortion rhetoric, as well as more ground when it comes to violence of this Tand one of the nation’s only sionate physician, poses a real blow to mainstream protests, has escalated in the nature,” the statement read. providers of late-term , has providers of prenatal care who depend- past few months, following the election of A Kansas man with ties to antigov- deepened the anxiety and apprehension ed on him for referral of difficult and President Obama, who advocated abor- ernment groups and anti-abortion of physicians who provide family plan- tragic cases, she said. tion rights during his campaign. protests, Scott Roeder, 51, has been ning services, especially abortion, ac- “We’ve all had that dreadful ultra- Abortion clinics reported a sharp in- charged with murder and aggravated as- cording to providers and physicians’ or- sound result. We all do screening am- crease in the number of harassing tele- sault in Dr. Tiller’s slaying. ganizations. niocentesis, [chorionic villus sampling], phone calls they received during the first Following the shooting, U.S. Attor- There is nothing new about the fear and anatomic ultrasounds, and we know 4 months of Mr. Obama’s presidency, ney Eric Holder activated the U.S. Mar- that pervades abortion services in the we’re going to find terrible things now 1,401, compared with 396 during the last shals Service to increase security for United States, with Dr. Tiller’s murder and then. We could refer patients to him full year of George W. Bush’s presidency. “clinics and individuals” providing abor- only the latest in a long string of mur- and know he was a colleague with the Just weeks before the murder, buses tion services. ders, attempted , and bombings. medical skill and compassion to help carrying physicians to ACOG’s annual The number of U.S. abortion Dr. Tiller himself had been shot in both these patients at a time of desperate meeting in Chicago negotiated a daily providers has been declining for many arms in 1993, and his clinic in Wichita, need,” she said. gauntlet of protesters lining the route, years, resulting in a situation in which Kan., had been bombed in 1985. Dr. Stanwood added that an increase each displaying oversized, gruesome 87% of U.S. counties (97% of non- But “when there is a pro-choice [pres- in the number of residency programs photographs of purported aborted fe- metropolitan counties) had no abortion idential] administration, the fringe vio- and fellowships that train physicians in tuses. Billboard trucks circled the con- provider as of 2005, reported the Alan lence movement becomes more desper- safe abortion procedures gives her hope vention hotels. Guttmacher Institute, a policy and re- ate and acts out,” Dr. Nancy L. that intimidation will not further un- “Why do you hate babies, doctor?” search organization. Stanwood, a board member of Physi- dermine the availability of family plan- one sign read. More than half of abortion providers cians for Reproductive Choice and ning services to American women. At the ACOG meeting, researchers experienced harassment in 2000, with Health, said in an interview. But a study by the National Abortion from the University of California at San abortion care depending on individuals “We knew violence would probably go Federation and the American College of Francisco reported on findings from in- like Dr. Tiller, who “risked his life on a up. Of course, we are horrified that a Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) terviews with 30 ob.gyns. who had re- daily basis,” said Guttmacher president murderous act happened so quickly,” found that anti-abortion harassment and ceived abortion training at four residen- Sharon Camp, Ph.D. said Dr. Stanwood of the department of violence has been a top contributor to a cy programs 5-10 years previously. “For the women he helped over the The surveyed physicians detailed a years, as well as those who will now have highly adversarial culture surrounding nowhere else to turn, this is an incalcu- abortion services, identifying profes- lable loss,” she said. CLASSIFIEDS sional barriers that included threats from The majority of recognized anti-abor- www.familypracticenews.com other physicians and administrative hur- tion groups condemned the killing as in- dles, reported Dr. Jody Steinauer, Lori R. compatible with their pro-life stance. Freedman, Ph.D., and researcher Mitchel “We denounce vigilantism and the Hawkins. cowardly act that took place this morn- PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION Providing such services “is a great way ing,” said , director of Op- OPPORTUNITIES to make no friends amongst the ob.gyns. eration Rescue, a Kansas-based activist and to have no family practice docs re- anti-abortion group. The group also dis- fer to you,” said one physician inter- tanced itself from former Operation Res- viewed during the study. cue leader , who said that San Juan Regional Medical Center in STOP Going to Sales One ob.gyn. recalled a partner asking Dr. Tiller was a “mass murderer ...[who] Farmington, NM is recruiting a BC/BE “Seminars” him to sign a contract with a group that reaped what he sowed.” Family Practice Physician to join an Start learning one-on-one from existing practice. SJRMC is a non-profit, Aesthetic Medicine Professionals. said, “I would not do terminations on cer- Other individuals, many in anony- community owned 240-bed hospital, tain genetic problems, like trisomy 21.” mous Web postings, expressed satisfac- Level III trauma center serving the Four Just like your practice, Several others received direct intimida- tion following the murder, equating it Corners area of New Mexico, Arizona, aesthetic laser patients are diverse. Colorado and Utah. Enjoy world-class All ages, skin types, from all walks of life tion. One potential employer told a can- with abortion. snow skiing, fly-fishing, camping, golfing, Free Introductory Preceptorship didate for an ob.gyn. position, “If I ever Kansas community activist Regina and more! Terri Smith [email protected] No Franchise Fees Involved find out you did elective abortions ... Dinwiddie, who had protested at Dr. 888.282.6591. CASH Procedures you’ll never practice in [this state] again.” Tiller’s clinic, told the Los Angeles Times, www.sanjuanregional.com • Laser Hair & Spider Vein • Laser Skin Resurfacing www.sjrmcdocs.com Removal • Benign Mole Removal Against this backdrop of nonviolent “If anybody needed killing, George Tiller • Pigment Removal • Wrinkle Reduction pressure, Dr. Tiller’s murder may be an needed killing. The gut reaction from • Acne/Scarring Treatments • Tattoo Removal • Skin Tightening & anomaly or may signal a return to vio- everybody who doesn’t have their Rejuvenation Treatments lence that reached new heights during the thoughts filtered by fear is ‘Yahoo!’ ” Have questions on classifieds? INCORPORATE AESTHETIC The National Task Force on Violence Call Traci Peppers, (212) 633-3766, for MEDICINE INTO YOUR PRACTICE! 1990s, when President Clinton, another more information. pro-choice advocate, was in office. Against Health Care Providers, formed In all, there have been 8 murders and by then-Attorney General Janet Reno 17 attempted murders of physicians and following the 1998 murder of abortion Disclaimer allied health care workers involved in provider Dr. Barnett A. Slepian, lists FAMILY PRACTICE NEWS assumes the abortion services since 1977, according nearly 60 safety tips for providers, in- statements made in classified advertise- Thomas Sult, MD Robin Sult, RN to statistics from the National Abortion cluding “Do not allow your vehicle to be ments are accurate, but cannot investigate Visit www.aestheticclinic.net Federation, a membership organization boxed in. Maintain at least 8 feet between the statements and assumes no respon- AESTHETIC LASERS, INC. of abortion providers. you and the vehicle in front, and avoid sibility or liability concerning their con- 877-868-3757 tent. The Publisher reserves the right to Professional organizations reacted the inner lanes.” decline, withdraw, or edit advertisements. swiftly to the murder in Kansas. Dr. Stanwood said that several physi- Every effort will be made to avoid mis- “There is no excuse, no explanation, cians had vowed to reopen and staff Dr. takes, but responsibility cannot be ac- KEEP UP-TO-DATE cepted for clerical or printer errors. Watch our Classified Notices for and no justification for this brutal slaying Tiller's clinic in Wichita. However at Post Graduate Course Information of a courageous and honorable physician press time, Dr. Tiller’s family announced Also available at www.elsevierhealthcareers.com who provided safe and legal reproductive in a statement that the clinic would be health care to women who otherwise closed permanently. ■