RIP, Dr. George Tiller

One of my heroes was assassinated by a domestic terrorist today. Dr. George Tiller was shot as he attended church services.

Dr. Tiller knowingly risked his life to provide much-needed services to women who had anencephalic fetuses, conjoined twins with little or no chance of survival, life-threatening conditions such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, or cancer diagnoses during later pregnancy that required chemotherapy in order for them to survive.

He was a brave man who knew the risks he faced, and he faced them anyway in order to protect women's lives. Now that he is gone, I fear more women will die being forced to bear fetuses with no chance of survival, to go through the multiple organ failure of eclampsia, or to forego needed chemotherapy. I am very sorry that someone hated him and his mission enough to carry out such a cowardly act, and that now he is gone.

Thank you, Dr. Tiller, for caring so much about women's health and welfare that you would put your life on the line. I hope your family finds condolence and peace in the knowledge that you made a positive difference in so many women's lives.

UPDATE: Mothers' personal stories of why they had to seek out Dr. Tiller's services (h/t Sully)