Another State Declines to Investigate Planned Parenthood as Attacks Fall Apart

For Immediate Release: Dec. 28, 2015

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With no evidence of wrongdoing, eight states decline to investigate and five end investigations finding no wrongdoing

WASHINGTON — Officials in Iowa have announced that they will not investigate Planned Parenthood in relation to extremist attacks about fetal tissue donation — adding to a growing number of states from across the country that have cleared Planned Parenthood affiliates of any wrongdoing or declined to investigate (more HERE and HERE). Five states have now concluded investigations finding no wrongdoing, and now eight other states have declined to investigate citing a lack of evidence of any wrongdoing.

Iowa joins Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Washington in declining to investigate Planned Parenthood, citing insufficient evidence of wrongdoing. Officials in Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and South Dakota also found Planned Parenthood in compliance with state laws and regulations. In Kansas, an open records request from the Associated Press revealed that an ongoing investigation into Planned Parenthood’s practices is equally unfounded.

Anti-abortion politicians and extremists have called for investigations based on heavily edited videos that have been discredited. Last month, a team of forensic experts found that the videos “significantly distort and misrepresent” actual events. The calls for investigations have come in states where Planned Parenthood is not involved in fetal tissue donation. While fetal tissue research is important and critical for helping develop treatments and cures for serious diseases, Planned Parenthood affiliates in just two states (representing one percent of all Planned Parenthood health enters) are involved in fetal tissue donation for medical research.

Following is a statement from Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“Planned Parenthood is the most trusted women’s health care provider in this country. We have the highest professional standards, and we take swift action if we are ever aware of an instance where those standards aren’t met.

“Extremists who oppose Planned Parenthood’s mission and services are making outrageous and completely false claims. They are engaged in a fraud, intended to deceive the public in order to advance an extreme political agenda.

“Five states have now concluded investigations finding no wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood, and eight more have said they won’t launch investigations in the first place. We’ve always said that these extremists’ claims would fall apart upon closer inspection, and that’s exactly what’s happening. The more the public and various officials look into this, the more they’re seeing that Planned Parenthood has done nothing wrong.

“We’ll continue cooperating with all legitimate investigations and providing full information about the vital health care services we provide to millions of Americans.”

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With approximately 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.