LITTLE ROCK-An Arkansas Board of Health member has resigned and raised concerns about conflicts of interest after the panel sided with the state Department of Health over a fee issue involving clinics offering abortions.
Robbie Thomas-Knight's resignation comes after the board sided with the health department in its October decision regarding clinics in Little Rock and Fayetteville. The board ruled that three clinics violated a state law barring them from charging a patient seeking an abortion for related services during the wait period before the procedure.
Thomas-Knight wrote in her Dec. 27 resignation letter that the board's decision was made "without a fair discussion or hearing" and "appeared to be motivated by punishment of the facility for the legal services they provided," The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported .
Thomas-Knight also noted that the board includes state Department of Health employees, which she said could be a conflict of interest.
The clinics have appealed the board's finding.