The following post was written by CDIN Political Affairs Director Hannah Miller as an opinion piece for the Indiana Business Journal. The article can also be accessed here.
Planned Parenthood has come under fire for what anti-choice activists call "selling baby parts". This is just as ridiculous as it sounds, as the deceitful and targeted smear tactics have been easily disproved.
Two videos have been released by the Center for Medical Progress claiming to show Planned Parenthood staff discussing the illegal sale of fetal body parts. However, this is entirely misleading as both videos are highly edited, cutting hours of secretly recorded footage. The videos actually show staff discussing tissue donation, a well-known practice for medical research that save lives. Planned Parenthood has stated that it follows all legal and ethical guidelines and patient consent is always given for donation. It is standard practice for costs associated with transporting tissue to be reimbursed, but Planned Parenthood makes no profit.
So, what is the Center for Medical Progress? It claims to be a non-profit for monitoring medical ethics, but it has not been doing this for long. As of today, it has 46 tweets, 45 of which are about Planned Parenthood. The facebook page was created in May, with no posts until July 14th, and again, only talking about Planned Parenthood. The Center for Medical Progress is led by David Daleiden, a former Live Action employee. Live Action is a well-known and self-described “pro-life advocacy” group with the goal of ending all abortions. It is evident that the Center for Medical Progress was created solely to smear Planned Parenthood.
This occurred through several years of calculated schemes. David Daleiden created a fake company called Biomax Procurement Services to trick Planned Parenthood employees. This led to the meetings in which the hours of footage was obtained, and a few minutes were released to give the appearance of illegal operations.
Therefore, it all seems very clear. Planned Parenthood does not sell fetal body parts. Nor does it engage in illegal or unethical practices. With such a dishonest and easily unraveled campaign, how could anyone fall for this ploy?
Unfortunately, presidential hopefuls such as Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, and Rand Paul have called for a Congressional investigation of Planned Parenthood, despite the complete lack of evidence. Even more disappointing are happenings here in Indiana. Governor Mike Pence ordered an investigation of Planned Parenthood, supported by the House Republican Caucus, stating that “many legitimate accusations have been leveled”.
Are Indiana Republicans really foolish enough to fall for this? That is doubtful. But they are indeed misguided enough to seize the opportunity to promote their agendas. The Center for Medical Progress, Live Action, and these Indiana lawmakers do not simply wish to investigate Planned Parenthood. The true goal has always been to end all access to safe and legal abortions.
It is shameful that those elected to make laws for us will use knowingly fraudulent evidence to halt health services because of their anti-choice agendas. This is even more disgraceful as Indiana faces an HIV outbreak that Planned Parenthood is helping to combat.
To Congress, Indiana lawmakers, and anti-choice activists: Stop lying to the American people to shut down a facility that provides health services to millions. Stop trying to falsely defame an organization that prevents far more abortions then it performs. Finally, stop using manipulative tactics to further legislate the bodies of women.
Planned Parenthood has come under fire for what anti-choice activists call "selling baby parts". This is just as ridiculous as it sounds, as the deceitful and targeted smear tactics have been easily disproved.
Two videos have been released by the Center for Medical Progress claiming to show Planned Parenthood staff discussing the illegal sale of fetal body parts. However, this is entirely misleading as both videos are highly edited, cutting hours of secretly recorded footage. The videos actually show staff discussing tissue donation, a well-known practice for medical research that save lives. Planned Parenthood has stated that it follows all legal and ethical guidelines and patient consent is always given for donation. It is standard practice for costs associated with transporting tissue to be reimbursed, but Planned Parenthood makes no profit.
So, what is the Center for Medical Progress? It claims to be a non-profit for monitoring medical ethics, but it has not been doing this for long. As of today, it has 46 tweets, 45 of which are about Planned Parenthood. The facebook page was created in May, with no posts until July 14th, and again, only talking about Planned Parenthood. The Center for Medical Progress is led by David Daleiden, a former Live Action employee. Live Action is a well-known and self-described “pro-life advocacy” group with the goal of ending all abortions. It is evident that the Center for Medical Progress was created solely to smear Planned Parenthood.
This occurred through several years of calculated schemes. David Daleiden created a fake company called Biomax Procurement Services to trick Planned Parenthood employees. This led to the meetings in which the hours of footage was obtained, and a few minutes were released to give the appearance of illegal operations.
Therefore, it all seems very clear. Planned Parenthood does not sell fetal body parts. Nor does it engage in illegal or unethical practices. With such a dishonest and easily unraveled campaign, how could anyone fall for this ploy?
Unfortunately, presidential hopefuls such as Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, and Rand Paul have called for a Congressional investigation of Planned Parenthood, despite the complete lack of evidence. Even more disappointing are happenings here in Indiana. Governor Mike Pence ordered an investigation of Planned Parenthood, supported by the House Republican Caucus, stating that “many legitimate accusations have been leveled”.
Are Indiana Republicans really foolish enough to fall for this? That is doubtful. But they are indeed misguided enough to seize the opportunity to promote their agendas. The Center for Medical Progress, Live Action, and these Indiana lawmakers do not simply wish to investigate Planned Parenthood. The true goal has always been to end all access to safe and legal abortions.
It is shameful that those elected to make laws for us will use knowingly fraudulent evidence to halt health services because of their anti-choice agendas. This is even more disgraceful as Indiana faces an HIV outbreak that Planned Parenthood is helping to combat.
To Congress, Indiana lawmakers, and anti-choice activists: Stop lying to the American people to shut down a facility that provides health services to millions. Stop trying to falsely defame an organization that prevents far more abortions then it performs. Finally, stop using manipulative tactics to further legislate the bodies of women.
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