Vol. 79/No. 28      August 10, 2015

Over nearly three years, anti-abortion activists carried out an operation to portray the health care provider as “selling baby parts.” They set up a fictitious biotechnology company, formed the cynically titled Center for Medical Progress and masqueraded as supporters of Planned Parenthood.

In July David Daleiden released two videos that he secretly taped of staff doctors discussing the procedures for obtaining fetal tissue for medical research with him and an associate over lunch. Daleiden claims the videos show that Planned Parenthood sells fetal tissue for profit. But in the videos both doctors affirm that the sale of fetal tissue is illegal and that Planned Parenthood receives a minimal fee to cover their costs.

Daleiden says he could release a dozen videos in the coming months.

While apologizing for “the tone and statements” of the staff, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said in a July 16 video statement, “The allegation that Planned Parenthood profits in any way from tissue donation is not true. Our donation programs follow all laws and ethical guidelines.”

Fetal tissue, which some women who have an abortion choose to donate, is used in medical research, including the study of eye diseases, diabetes and muscular dystrophy, as well as Parkinson’s disease and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The New York Times reported that scientists and universities doing this research do not want to disclose their names because abortion opponents have threatened them with violence.

Opponents of a woman’s right to choose have begun holding protests in front of dozens of Planned Parenthood clinics, calling for an end to federal funding to the organization on the basis of the videos.

Three dozen supporters of women’s rights rallied behind a banner reading “Health Care Happens Here” in front of Planned Parenthood’s clinic in Des Moines, Iowa, July 28 to counter an anti-abortion rally of about 100 people. Clinic supporters reported they received many honks of support.

Similar actions by supporters of a woman’s right to choose and keeping abortion safe and legal took place that day at other clinics in the region, including in Lincoln, Nebraska; Cedar Falls and Sioux City, Iowa; and Rochester, Minnesota.

Some politicians have joined the charge against Planned Parenthood. Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican presidential candidate, introduced legislation to stop all government funds to the organization. Other Republican candidates, including Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, along with House Speaker John Boehner, have called for investigations aimed to stop funding.

Nationwide, Planned Parenthood receives some $500 million in government funding through Medicaid and Title X for reproductive health services, but not for abortion, which is not funded under federal law.

With some 700 clinics throughout the country, Planned Parenthood provides millions of women with birth control, treatment for sexual transmitted diseases, cancer screenings, abortions and other medical procedures. A large number of their patients are working-class women, with many on Medicaid.

While anti-abortion groups have not succeeded in outlawing the procedure in the more than 40 years since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, they have used the tactic of state-by-state restrictions and harassing the clinics with laws requiring hospital-like conditions hoping to force closures, as happened in Texas. With the false claim of misuse of fetal tissue they hope to further pressure one of the main abortion providers that exists in many areas of the country.

Laura Garza in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this article.  
 
 
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