Pennsylvania Clears Planned Parenthood of All Wrongdoing

For Immediate Release: Dec. 28, 2015

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Pennsylvania is Fifth in Growing List of States to Clear Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania today joined a growing number of states from across the country who have cleared Planned Parenthood affiliates of any wrongdoing (more HERE and HERE). This makes Pennsylvania the fifth state to find that the allegations against Planned Parenthood are baseless — laying bare that the campaign launched by anti-abortion politicians and extremists to attack the essential health care Planned Parenthood affiliates provide is blatantly political.

Today’s announcement by officials in Pennsylvania comes on the heels of news that officials inFlorida backed down on threats to women’s access to safe, legal abortion at Planned Parenthood health centers. Last week, the state of Georgia also backed down on its threats to end Planned Parenthood’s ability to use state labs to provide critical STD testing services. Officials in Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, and South Dakota also found Planned Parenthood in compliance with state laws and regulations. Officials in Delaware, Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Virginia have declined to investigate Planned Parenthood, citing no evidence of wrongdoing. Similarly, in Kansas, an open records request from the Associated Press revealed that an ongoing investigation into Planned Parenthood’s practices is equally unfounded.

About one month ago, a group of anti-abortion extremists launched a widely debunked video hoax intended to attack Planned Parenthood and the reproductive health care the organization provides to millions of patients each year. The group coordinated with national and state lawmakers, and timed a relentless PR campaign with the introduction of anti-abortion legislation, as well as legislation attempting to block Planned Parenthood health centers from serving patients who rely on publicly funded health care programs. Despite the fact that these initial attacks have fallen flat — with a failed Senate vote and three national polls affirming that a majority of American voters firmly support Planned Parenthood and oppose defunding the group — politicians in several states have called for investigations into the nonprofit health care provider.

At both the federal and state level, news reports have confirmed that GOP politicians are working in coordination with anti-abortion extremists with the Center for Medical Progress, including in Texas and in Congress (read more here and here).

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

“Pennsylvania has cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing — just like officials in every other state where these investigations have concluded. As we have said time and time again, Planned Parenthood follows all laws and has very high medical standards, and that's what all of these investigations are finding. All of this stems from totally false claims made by anti-abortion extremists who are pursuing a political agenda that is far outside the mainstream.

“At Planned Parenthood, we work every day to ensure that our patients have access to high-quality, compassionate health care. The politicians who are waging these attacks against Planned Parenthood and our patients have allied themselves with extremists who are willing to lie, harass women and doctors, and reportedly break the law. We will of course cooperate with legitimate investigations, but it is clear that the public does not want elected officials spending time and money looking into patently false claims that are simply designed to advance an extreme anti-abortion agenda. At Planned Parenthood, our focus will continue to be on serving our 2.7 million patients across the country who depend on our health centers for basic health care, no matter what.”

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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.