JINDAL ADMIN DEMANDS PLANNED PARENTHOOD EXPLAIN ANSWERS TO INVESTIGATION IN LIGHT OF RECENT VIDEO
Governor Jindal and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals responded to the most recent Planned Parenthood video that shows a Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast employee discussing the ways in which they harvest unborn babies to sell on the open market. DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert sent a letter to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast asking 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.
This action follows the decision to terminate Planned Parenthood's Medicaid provider agreement with the state of Louisiana.
Governor Jindal said, "The recent video of a Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast employee discussing the harvesting of organs from aborted babies is disgusting. 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.
It is time for Planned Parenthood to stop misleading the state in our investigation and be honest about the nature of its activities.”
DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert sent the following letter:
August 4, 2015
Melaney Linton
Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Inc.
4600 Gulf Freeway
Houston, TX 77023
Dear Melaney Linton,
In your letter dated July 24, 2015, you stated that “PPCFC does not have fetal tissue donation programs in Texas currently” and that “PPCFC disposes of Pathological Waste through an entity that is licensed for disposal of Special Waste from Health Care-Related Facilities.” You also answered “no” in response to the question “Do any Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast facilities, or any affiliates, subsidiaries or associates thereof, sell or donate any unborn baby organs or body parts?” As you note in the letter, “PPCFC will lease space in PPGC’s new health center located at 4636 S. Claiborne Avenue, and PPCFC intends to seek a license to provide abortions at that location.”
These statements directly contradict a recently released video made on April 9, 2015 at the Planned Parenthood facility in Houston, TX, in which Melissa Farrell, Director of Research at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC), discusses existing contracts for fetal tissue donation for the purpose of research. In one specific contract, she notes that the researcher is requesting 120 fetal cadavers. She also discusses compensatory terms for “altering [the] process” used to extract the baby to ensure more body parts are intact. She explains this is “diversification of revenue stream” and how she can “get creative” for altering the process to ensure that more “products of conception” are usable for fetal tissue research, which “we bake…into our contract and our protocol.”
In light of this new video, the Department is extremely concerned that Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, its close associate Planned Parenthood Center for Choice (PPCFC), or both have not only participated in the sale or donation of fetal tissue, but also deliberately misinformed the Department about this practice in its July 24 response letter.
The Department therefore requests that you answer the following additional questions:
1. Does PPGC, PPCFC, or any affiliate or associate donate, sell, or in any way transfer-for-remuneration unborn baby organs or baby parts?
2. Does PPGC, PPCFC, or any affiliate or associate provide any research facility, research company, or individual researcher unborn baby organs or baby parts?
3. Does PPGC, PPCFC, or any affiliate or associate receive any financial compensation from that transaction of any kind, including cost?
4. If so, how much does PPGC, PPCFC or any affiliate or associate receive on average per baby body, baby organ or baby part provided?
5. How much has PPGC, PPCFC or any affiliate or associate received in total for all baby bodies, baby organs or baby parts provided to any organization for the last five years?
6. In your letter of July 24, 2015, are you defining PPCFC as a fully standalone entity that is not an affiliate, subsidiary or associate of PPGC? Do you not consider an organization that plans to lease space from another organization an “associate” of that organization?
7. What is the current job title of Melissa Farrell? How long has she held this position? Did she previously hold any other positions with PPGC, PPCFC, or with any affiliate or associate?
8. Your letter states that Oncore Technology, LLC is the entity with whom you contract for the disposal of unborn baby organs and baby parts. Does Oncore Technology, LLC receive all unborn baby organs and baby parts from every abortion performed by PPCFC?
9. If no, please provide the names of any organization that has received in the last five years, with or without formal contract, any unborn baby body, baby organ or baby part.
Please respond to this letter no later than August 14, 2015. This letter is part of an ongoing investigation.
Sincerely,
Kathy H. Kliebert
Secretary
LA Department of Health & Hospitals