Caitlin Bernard

Caitlin Bernard is an American obstetrician-gynecologist and reproductive and abortion rights activist. Bernard is a practicing physician affiliated with Indiana University Health, as well as an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Indiana University School of Medicine. She also serves as associate medical director and director of ultrasound services for Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, and has provided abortion services at Planned Parenthood facilities in Indiana and Kentucky.[1][2]

Caitlin Barnard
Alma materBinghamton University
State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
Scientific career
FieldsObstetrics and gynaecology
InstitutionsIndiana University School of Medicine

Early life

Bernard grew up on a farm in upstate New York, raised by socially liberal parents. Her father was a carpenter. Bernard first mentioned she wanted to grow up to be a doctor at the age of 5. Her sister recalled accompanying her to a Planned Parenthood to get birth control at the age of 15. She also traveled to Guatemala with her father to volunteer in health clinics. This experience was part of what formed her interest in obstetrics and gynecology.[2]

Education and career

Bernard completed her undergraduate degree at Binghamton University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Human Development/Biology in 2006. She received her medical degree at State University of New York Upstate Medical University in 2010, completing a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Afterward, she received at Master of Science degree in Clinical Investigation at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine in 2017. At Washington University, she also completed a family planning fellowship, for which she was accredited to perform more difficult abortion procedures, such as second-term abortion.[2]

Activism

Bernard is a public advocate for abortion rights, who has frequently given speeches, spoken to media, and lobbied state government in Indiana.[2]

2019 ACLU suit

In 2019, Bernard and another doctor sued, in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, to overturn HEA 1211, also known as the "Dismemberment Abortion Ban"—a TRAP law which banned dilation and evacuation procedures. That law attempted to make such abortion procedures a felony for the doctor performing them unless it is to save the life of the mother or the fetus is non-viable.[3] At the time, Bernard was one of only two doctors in Indiana performing the procedure, which only occurred 27 times in the state in 2017.[4][5]

In May 2019, Bernard spoke at a Planned Parenthood-supported rally at the Indiana Statehouse, and stated—in reference to other restrictive laws recently passed in states like Alabama and Missouri—"It is only a matter of time before it is right here on our doorsteps".[6] On June 28, just before the July 1 date the law was due to go into effect, it was blocked by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.[7] Subsequently, the case was appealed and the law was revived after the Supreme Court's 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Post-Dobbs

In 2022, Bernard was at the center of a high-profile case in which she served as doctor performing a medical abortion for a 10-year-old patient who traveled to Indiana from Ohio for the procedure in the wake of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision.[8] Since that incident in particular, which became part of the broader abortion debate in the United States, Bernard has become a high-profile abortion rights advocate, and was subject to intense public attention—which included Indiana launching an investigation into the matter, announced by Attorney General Todd Rokita on Fox News, and Bernard suing Rokita for defamation.[9][10][11]

In late May 2023, the Indiana Medical Licensing Board voted to reprimand Bernard on the charge of violating patient privacy by discussing the case, fining her US$3,000.[12][13] The board voted to clear Bernard of two other charges, finding that she "did not improperly report child abuse and that she is fit to practice medicine".[12]

References
  1. "She provided an abortion to a 10-year-old. She's still fighting for her patients". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  2. Stolberg, Sheryl Gay; Sasani, Ava (2022-07-28). "An Indiana Doctor Speaks Out on Abortion, and Pays a Price". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  3. "Indiana Physicians Challenge 'Dismemberment' Abortion Law". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  4. "State could run up more legal fees after losing abortion case". The Statehouse File. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  5. Smith, Casey. "Attorney General Curtis Hill appealing federal judge's ruling on South Bend abortion clinic". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  6. TheStatehouseFile.com, Emily Ketterer (22 May 2019). "Planned Parenthood hosts Statehouse rally against abortion bans". Washington Times Herald. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  7. "Indiana May Not Enforce 'Dismemberment' Abortion Ban". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  8. Sasani, Ava (2022-07-13). "Suspect Is Arrested in Ohio After Rape of 10-Year-Old Girl". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  9. "Indy doctor received 'threats' after Rokita's Fox News interview; attorneys spar in court". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  10. "Indiana Doctor Forced to Testify About Providing Abortion to 10-Year-Old Rape Victim". Jezebel. 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  11. del Valle, Lauren; Maxouris, Christina (2022-12-08). "Indiana doctor who provided abortion services to 10-year-old rape victim drops lawsuit against state AG". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  12. Bellware, Kim; Rosenzweig-Ziff, Dan (May 26, 2023). "Indiana board fines doctor for discussing rape victim's abortion". The Washington Post.
  13. McCammon, Sarah (May 26, 2023). "Indiana reprimands doctor who spoke publicly about providing 10-year-old's abortion". NPR.
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