· Dr. George Tiller began performing abortions in 1973 after he found out that his deceased father, a family physician, had quietly performed illegal abortions.
· In 1984, his medical license was restricted by the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts when he was charged with driving under the influence. After treatment for drug and alcohol problems, the restrictions were removed in 1986.
· By 1985, he converted his father’s medical practice, which he had taken over at his death, into a clinic where abortion was the primary service.
· By the late 1980s, Tiller was performing late-term abortions on women from around the world.
· In 1992, Kansas passed its first restrictions on abortion followed by tighter regulations in 1998. A doctor was forbidden to abort a pregnancy after the 22nd week except to save the mother’s life or to prevent physical or mental harm to her. Two independent doctors had to concur that the abortion was medically necessary.
· Tiller formed a political action committee in 2002 to give donations to pro-abortion politicians in Kansas, such as Governor Kathleen Sebelius.
· In April 2007, Sebelius honored Tiller and his staff in the Governor’s Mansion for his contributions to her campaign.
· Earlier this year, Tiller was acquitted of 19 misdemeanor counts; the allegations were that he had performed late-term abortions without verification by an independent physician of their medical necessity.
· At the time of his death, the Kansas Board of Healing Arts was investigating whether Tiller performed late-term abortions in accord with the law requiring affirmation of their necessity by a second physician.
· According to Tiller, he performed 60,000 abortions.
