Head Of Kansas Medical Licensing Board Resigns; Had Led Charges Against Abortion Provider Tiller

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 27 Oct 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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The executive director of the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, which licenses and regulates Kansas doctors, resigned effective Oct. 19, according to board officials, the AP/Kansas City Star reports. Jack Confer, who took the position in June 2008, had received praise from abortion-rights opponents, who previously accused the board of protecting abortion providers from punishment for alleged misconduct. The board denied those charges. The antiabortion-rights group Kansans for Life said it was "distraught" over Confer's resignation.

In March, the board publicly issued a regulatory complaint against abortion provider George Tiller for allegedly violating abortion restrictions, even though Tiller had been acquitted of state misdemeanor charges for similar infractions. The board abandoned the case after Tiller was fatally shot in May. Confer gave no reason for his decision to resign from his post. Gov. Mark Parkinson (D), an abortion-rights supporter, did not pressure Confer to resign, according to spokesperson Beth Martino. Jerry Slaughter, the executive director of the Kansas Medical Society, said that he had no previous indication that Confer had plans to leave his position (Hanna, AP/Kansas City Star, 10/23).

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