The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) finds the murder of George Tiller, MD, deplorable and tragic. There is no excuse, no explanation, and no justification for this brutal slaying of a courageous and honorable physician who provided safe and legal reproductive health care to women who otherwise might not have received it. It is especially chilling and deeply disturbing that this violence has occurred at a time when the leaders of this country are committed to finding a common ground in the abortion debate.

ACOG extends its sympathy to the family of this dedicated physician who treated his patients with dignity and compassion.

As ACOG expressed in response to the 1998 murder of Dr. Barnett A. Slepian, "With each new incident of anti-abortion violence, the previously unthinkable becomes commonplace—that vandalism could turn to murder, that slayings could move from the clinic to inside the home." The murder of Dr. George Tiller is even more horrific in that he was killed in a house of worship as he and his family attended church services.

There is no common ground when it comes to violence of this nature. All groups in the abortion debate, whatever their personal opinion on abortion, must condemn such brutality in the strongest possible terms. Failure to make such condemnation is acquiescence to violence and intimidation. Only by standing together can we ensure that acts of brutality end.

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