Successor Continues Tiller's Battle

It's not easy being the leading provider of late-term abortions. Since Leroy Carhart decided to take up the work of slain colleague and friend George Tiller, he's become the target of intense opposition from anti-abortion groups. Carhart has adapted his Omaha-area clinic to his dangerous new line of work, adding metal detectors and security cameras. He's changed his lifestyle, too—the doctor limits his trips to public places, and his daughter's wedding took place at a heavily guarded Air Force base.

In addition to the constant threat of bodily harm, Carhart is dealing with groups like Operation Rescue mounting legal challenges to try to revoke his license, based on the claim that late-term abortions are illegal under Nebraska law. But he remains uncowed: "To me, the most dangerous response would be for me to stop what I am doing," he tells the New York Times. "The thought that killing Tiller might also succeed in closing another clinic—that’s my main reason for keeping open.”
(More abortion stories.)