Legal Challenges For Tiller's Clinic Likely To End

Kansas City, MO – Dr. George Tiller's Wichita clinic is closed for the rest of the week as a gesture of morning the slain physician. It will reopen Monday staffed by three out-of-state doctors who have worked there on a rotating basis for several years. One of them, Dr. LeRoy Carhart, told reporters yesterday that the clinic will continue to offer "all of the services it has in the past."

The clinic will open free of the many legal hassles it has faced in the past several years. Tiller was cleared last year of 19 misdemeanor charges filed by the state based on medical records subpoenaed by former Attorney General Phill Kline. Tiller's death is likely to end the other existing challenges. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

Accusations similar to those Tiller was acquitted of at trial are pending with the state Board of Healing Arts as complaints, but media liaison Kristi Pankratz says they are against Dr. Tiller, not against the clinic.

"What will happen with that case against Dr. Tiller is - the board will review the case and see if it should go ahead and be closed," says Pankratz. "(It's) more than likely it will be closed."

Pankratz says she does not know of the Board of Healing Arts ever disciplining a deceased physician. Steve Bell, KCUR News.