Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration says it is demanding answers from Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC) in light of the fifth undercover video revealing the director of research for that affiliate discussing the sale of intact aborted babies.
A press release from Jindal’s office indicates that Kathy Kliebert, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), sent a letter to PPGC asking that affiliate “to reconcile how this video matches with Planned Parenthood’s initial response to the DHH investigation where they claimed they do not engage in the sale or donation of aborted babies.”
Kliebert’s letter to PPGC President Melaney Linton came one day after Jindal announced plans to end the state’s Medicaid contract with Planned Parenthood. Earlier in July, Jindal had also called upon the state’s inspector general and the FBI to assist with a DHH investigation into Planned Parenthood’s activities in Louisiana, and had halted licenses for the new abortion facility the organization is building in New Orleans.
“The recent video of a Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast employee discussing the harvesting of organs from aborted babies is disgusting,” Jindal, a GOP presidential contender, said in a statement. “It is especially concerning given that Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast responded to our investigation with a letter just a few weeks ago claiming its organization does not sell or donate any unborn baby organs or body parts.”
“After watching the most recent video, it certainly appears Planned Parenthood representatives are being less than truthful in their responses to our investigation so far,” he added. ”It is time for Planned Parenthood to stop misleading the state in our investigation and be honest about the nature of its activities.”
According to The Advocate, Linton responded July 27 to the Jindal administration’s questions about how it handles the body parts of aborted babies.
“Some Planned Parenthood affiliates may help patients who wish to donate fetal tissue, just like other health care providers do,” she said. “Stem cell research and other tissue research can lead to important scientific and medical breakthroughs, such as the polio vaccine and research into many diseases such as Parkinson’s and diabetes.”
However, Linton added that Planned Parenthood Center for Choice, Inc. (PPCFC) has no program for the donation of the organs of aborted babies in Texas, and one is not planned for their new facility in New Orleans. She said PPGC does not provide abortion services, but PPCFC does. Additionally, Linton said the accusations against Planned Parenthood following the release of the investigative videos by Center for Medical Progress are “false and misleading,” and that the videos were altered “to make outrageous claims about programs that help women donate fetal tissue for medical research.”
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