By Tom Lassiter, Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE — A physician was arrested on Wednesday and charged with sexual battery after a woman accused the doctor of performing an abortion on her against her will, police said.

Detectives arrested Dr. Theodore Lehrer, 52, of 936 Intercoastal Drive, at his home on a warrant charging him with sexual battery of a 37-year-old woman. The alleged attack occurred at the doctor`s home on Sunday, police said.

``He`s accused of inserting an object into the woman and aborting an 11- to 14-week-old embryo against her will,`` police spokesman Ott Cefkin said.

``The woman was so unnerved by it, that she contacted us,`` Cefkin said. ``He denied the allegations.``

The sexual battery charge was filed against Lehrer because he allegedly inserted an instrument into the woman against her will, and not because the embryo had been aborted, Cefkin said.

The woman told police that she had been tied her to a table before the attack, he said.

Lehrer is a gynecologist who works at the All Women`s Clinic, 2100 E. Commercial Blvd., which offers abortions, Cefkin said. He said the clinic has been the subject of protests by anti-abortion demonstrators, including harassing phone calls and cut phone lines since 1985.

Detectives recovered physical evidence from Lehrer`s home that ``substantiates`` the woman`s charges, Cefkin said. He declined to elaborate.