Wichita ? One of the nation’s few providers of late-term abortions testified Wednesday that he relied on advice from his lawyers and a Kansas official before getting second opinions that prosecutors say were illegal.

Dr. George Tiller testified at his trial on 19 misdemeanor charges stemming from abortions he performed at his Wichita clinic in 2003.

He is accused of breaking a state law requiring that two Kansas physicians without legal or financial ties to sign off on any late-term procedure.

Tiller recalled a June 1999 conversation with Larry Buening, who was then executive director of the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, which regulates doctors.

Tiller testified that Buening suggested he use Dr. Ann Kristin Neuhaus for second opinions.

Under cross examination, Tiller said he relied on what Buening told him but acknowledged he later sought legal advice from his attorneys. When pressed, he said he ultimately relied on his attorneys’ advice.

That distinction is important to the prosecution because the judge told both sides before the trial began that relying on the advice of an attorney cannot be used as a legal defense to criminal charges.