Summary: After several undercover videos have been released to the public exposing illegal acts, Planned Parenthood’s across the nation are facing investigations.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott called for an investigation into the state’s Planned Parenthood‘s after several graphic videos have been released on social media that show Planned Parenthood officials discussing fees and the procedures for fetal tissues procurement that is then sold to medical researchers.
Florida investigators found four clinics with violations. Clinics in St. Petersburg, Fort Myers, and Naples were found to be performing second-trimester abortions without a license. The fourth clinic in Pembroke Pines did not keep proper documentation of fetal disposal.
The three clinics have been ordered to stop performing the late-term abortions immediately. Actions can be taken against these clinics, such as administrative sanctions. The fourth clinic has one week to submit plans on how they will keep better records of fetal remain disposal.
Scott stated, “The videos are disturbing. It’s against the law to sell body parts, so we did the right thing in our state to just make sure they’re complying with the law.” Planned Parenthood claims that the videos don’t show any actual illegal acts while others are claiming that the organization is profiting from the abortions they perform by selling fetal organs and tissue.
The Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates released a statement defending that they have not done anything wrong and do not sell fetal tissue or perform second-trimester abortions. They blame the AHCA and their supposed “flip-flopping on their own rules and definitions of gestational periods.”
State Rep. Charles McBurney requested a criminal investigation that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is reviewing. Eleven states have started investigations in Planned Parenthood.
Photo: texastribune.org