Pro-Life Wisconsin director files license complaints against abortion doctors
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- The director of Pro-Life Wisconsin is filing medical license complaints against doctors who support abortion in Wisconsin.
Dan Miller filed with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. Miller told CBS 58 that he believes Planned Parenthood is breaking state law by resuming abortion care in Milwaukee and Madison, despite a ruling from a Dane County judge that the state's 1849 law did not apply to consensual abortions. That ruling is what prompted Planned Parenthood to resume abortions at two of its clinics.
Miller's complaints name Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and its medical director, Dr. Kathy King. It also names Dr. Kristin Lyerly, who used to perform abortions at Planned Parenthood's Sheboygan clinic up until Roe v. Wade was overturned last year.
Dr. Lyerly currently does not practice medicine in Wisconsin, but Miller says his reason for including her in his complaint is because she has previously provided abortions in Wisconsin, and he says she has publicly expressed that she wants to come back to Wisconsin to continue those services.
Miller says his complaints are a result of inaction from law enforcement and the district attorneys in Madison and Milwaukee. "As a citizen, the fact that our elected officials won't enforce the law -- that is very troubling to me," said Miller.
CBS 58 reached out to Dr. Lyerly. While she could not comment specifically on the complaint against her, she did share her thoughts on what she called "intimidation tactics."
"It's baseless, it's flagrant, and it's just another attempt that we've seen. Not only in Wisconsin but across the country. Colleagues of mine in Missouri told me they've received hundreds of complaints," said Dr. Lyerly.
Dr. Lyerly also said she wanted to reassure families that fear will not prevent her and her colleagues from providing patients with the care they need. "The medical community has had enough of this. Enough of this interference that prevents us from taking care of our patients and our patients have had enough of this. We won't stand for this any longer," said Lyerly.
Miller says he hopes the complaints deter abortion providers from continuing services and that Pro-Life Wisconsin plans to continue its work protecting preborn babies across the state.
There is still an ongoing case challenging Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban. It will likely end up in front of the state Supreme Court.
Until then, Planned Parenthood plans to continue providing abortions at its Madison and Milwaukee clinics.