To defund Planned Parenthood, focus on three video-caused problems. So writes Stephen J. Heaney (Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Saint Thomas Saint Paul, MN), in the current edition of “Public Discourse” from The Witherspoon Institute (http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/09/15670/). Here are the problems . . .
“First, Planned Parenthood affiliates, with consent of the national office, are clearly violating several federal regulations concerning obtaining fetal tissue for research—possibly including making an illegal profit from the deal. Second, in doing so, they are violating their own protocols and terms of consent with the women undergoing the abortions. Third, it is apparent from these violations that Planned Parenthood does not care about the women it claims it is so moved to serve.”
Heaney warns that if we use the videos to argue against abortion, pro-abortionists will always counter with a PC answer, such as, “You’re against women’s health!” Rather, we should focus on their violation of federal regulations, their violating their own protocols, and their non-care about women.
First, focus on federal regulations violations.
“US Code Title 42, Chapter 6A, Subchapter III, Part H, paragraph 289g-1 gives the conditions for the donation of fetal tissue. Under b) 2) A), the following regulations are in place:
1. the consent of the woman for the abortion was obtained prior to requesting or obtaining consent for a donation of the tissue for use in research;
2. no alteration of the timing, method, or procedures used to terminate the pregnancy was made solely for the purposes of obtaining the tissue
Furthermore, HHS regulations, as spelled out in Chapter VI of the Institutional Review Board Guidebook, insist:
-The decision to terminate a pregnancy and procedures of abortion should be kept independent from the retrieval and use of fetal tissue.
– The timing and methods of abortion should not be influenced by the potential uses of fetal tissue for transplantation or medical research.
– Payments and other forms of remuneration and compensation associated with the procurement of fetal tissue should be prohibited, except payment for reasonable expenses occasioned by the actual retrieval, storage, preparation, and transportation of tissue
The Code of Federal Regulations at 46.204 (h) and (i) says:
(h) No inducements, monetary or otherwise, will be offered to terminate a pregnancy;
(i) Individuals engaged in the research will have no part in any decisions as to the timing, method, or procedures used to terminate a pregnancy.
And at 46.206:
(a) Research involving, after delivery, the placenta; the dead fetus; macerated fetal material; or cells, tissue, or organs excised from a dead fetus, shall be conducted only in accord with any applicable federal, state, or local laws and regulations regarding such activities.”
Here are regulations regarding fetal tissue donations . . .
“US Code Title 42, Chapter 6A, Subchapter III, Part H, paragraph 289g-1 gives the conditions for the donation of fetal tissue. Under b) 2) A), the following regulations are in place:
1. the consent of the woman for the abortion was obtained prior to requesting or obtaining consent for a donation of the tissue for use in research;
2. no alteration of the timing, method, or procedures used to terminate the pregnancy was made solely for the purposes of obtaining the tissue
Furthermore, HHS regulations, as spelled out in Chapter VI of theInstitutional Review Board Guidebook, insist:
-The decision to terminate a pregnancy and procedures of abortion should be kept independent from the retrieval and use of fetal tissue.
– The timing and methods of abortion should not be influenced by the potential uses of fetal tissue for transplantation or medical research.
– Payments and other forms of remuneration and compensation associated with the procurement of fetal tissue should be prohibited, except payment for reasonable expenses occasioned by the actual retrieval, storage, preparation, and transportation of tissue
The Code of Federal Regulations at 46.204 (h) and (i) says:
(h) No inducements, monetary or otherwise, will be offered to terminate a pregnancy;
(i) Individuals engaged in the research will have no part in any decisions as to the timing, method, or procedures used to terminate a pregnancy.
And at 46.206:
(a) Research involving, after delivery, the placenta; the dead fetus; macerated fetal material; or cells, tissue, or organs excised from a dead fetus, shall be conducted only in accord with any applicable federal, state, or local laws and regulations regarding such activities.”
Regarding profiting from the sale of baby body parts, Planned Parenthood denies they don’t profit because they are a non-profit organization! However, the videos clearly reveal Planned Parenthood often establishes the price and that it is as much as the market will pay.
Heaney writes: “In the second video, Mary Gatter, president of the Planned Parenthood Medical Directors’ Council, and medical director at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles until 2014, is clearly willing to accept, not what it would cost her clinic to process the fetal organs, but whatever the buyer is willing to pay. In the third video, Deborah Nucatola, senior director of medical services for PPFA, recognizes that the affiliates are looking for ways, not simply to break even, but to make a profit. In the fifth video, we see Abby Johnson, former director of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, testifying before the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, that fetal specimens were bringing in up to $120,000 per month. ‘That is certainly not “recouping costs”,’ she concludes.”
Second, focus on PP’s own protocol and terms of consent violations. Videos one, two and five all reveal PP officials stating their abortionists “are perfectly willing to change the type of procedure they will perform, better to obtain the types of specimens desired.” Procedure-type should to be chosen by what is best for the woman, not what is best for getting fetal tissue. To change procedure without the patient’s consent violates federal law and PP’s own protocol.
Third, focus on PP’s lack of care for women. The violations identified above suggest PP doesn’t genuinely care about women they claim to serve, Again, Heaney writes, “We have the testimony of former StemExpress procurement agent Holly O’Donnell that it was her job to pressure women into giving consent to fetal tissue donation, even when they clearly did not want to, by telling them that some good would come as a result of the valuable research to be performed on their dead babies’ remains. We further have her testimony that fetal tissue was not infrequently donated even when the woman did not give consent.”
Conclusion. In discussing these videos. Heaney counsels, “Stick to the pertinent facts: Planned Parenthood is profiting from the sale of fetal parts. Planned Parenthood is routinely violating federal law. Planned Parenthood really does not care about women.”
Planned Parenthood proponents argue the videos are edited. What a ridiculous charge! How could “innocent” videos possibly be edited to this horrific degree! The reality: Planned Parenthood is guilty of violating federal regulations as well as its own surgical protocols.
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