Will Women and Babies Pay the Price?

Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, info@operationrescue.org

TOPEKA, Kans., Oct. 23 /Standard Newswire/ -- It was confirmed yesterday that Jack Confer, Executive Director of the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts resigned unexpectedly and without explanation on Monday, October 19, 2009. Circumstances suggest that Confer's resignation may have been related to abortion cases that were before the KSBHA.

"We are sorry to see Mr. Confer go. He seemed to us to be a fair man that was above the corrupt abortion politics in Kansas. He will be deeply missed," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

Operation Rescue has filed numerous complaints against Kansas abortionists alleging misconduct and illegal activity. All complaints were stonewalled by Confer's predecessor, Larry Buening, who was revealed to be a close personal friend of late-term abortionist George Tiller.

Buening was forced to resign in disgrace over scandals involving the Board's reluctance to discipline physicians, especially abortionists. After Buening's resignation, Confer was hired to replace him and there was a massive overhaul of staff at the KSBHA.

Under Confer, abortion cases that had languished for years began to move forward. One such case, filed by Operation Rescue Senior Policy Advisor Cheryl Sullenger, resulted in an 11 count petition against Tiller for illegal late-term abortions done without the second opinion of an unaffiliated physician. News of that petition was released in dramatic fashion by the KSBHA just moments after Tiller was acquitted of 19 similar criminal charges.

"The criminal case and outcome is not determinative of the Board's administrative case. The administrative case will proceed on its own merits," said a written statement from the KSBHA.

"This statement was a message to the public that the KSBHA, under Confer, was above the politics of abortion," said Newman. "We expected that the board would have moved to discipline Tiller, and perhaps even revoke his medical license, but they never had the opportunity because of Tiller's senseless killing."

Confer's resignation came just as the Board was about to consider additional complaints against Tiller's three hired out-of-state abortionists based on allegations similar to those in Sullenger's complaint.

"The timing of this resignation is suspicious to us. We sincerely hope that Confer did not resign over pressure or corruption that was impeding his ability to do his job, but right now, that is a possibility that is very much on our minds," said Newman. "If corrupt forces have prevailed, then it is women who will ultimately pay the price at the hands of dangerous and unscrupulous abortionists."

About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006.  From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.

Web site: www.operationrescue.org