Both Neuhaus and Tiller testified that she examined patients at Tiller's clinic because it was too dangerous to see them anywhere else. In the past, Neuhaus said, Tiller's pregnant patients have been harassed by abortion protesters who followed them to their hotels and slipped literature with pictures of dead fetuses under their doors as well as the doors of other hotel guests.
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Doctor acquitted by Kansas jury in late-term abortion trial
Prosecutors had argued that the second opinions in 19 of his procedures weren't given by an independent physician. Next up is an administrative challenge from a state health board.
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Neuhaus also testified that she sometimes turned patients down after examining them. Tiller did not contest her opinions in those cases, she said.
"We are extremely disappointed" with the verdict, said the Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition and former national spokesman for Operation Rescue.
"But we're thrilled that it even came to trial. This will not stop us at all."
Indeed, on the same day Tiller was acquitted, the Board of Healing Arts announced that it was filing an 11-count administrative case against him, which could result in the suspension or revocation of his license.
He is accused of breaking the same law -- with some of the same patients -- that he was found not guilty of breaking on Friday.
In its news release, the board said that the criminal case was not "determinant" and that the case would proceed "on its own merits."
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robin.abcarian@latimes.com
