Planned Parenthood Statement in Response to Ohio Attorney General Inflammatory and Baseless Accusations

Columbus, OH --- In response to the Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine’s inflammatory and false report released today in regards to Planned Parenthood, Stephanie Kight, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, issued the following statement:

“As we have always maintained, and as the Attorney General has now confirmed, the original accusations that Planned Parenthood “sold fetal tissue” were completely unfounded and untrue.

“These new allegations by the Attorney General that we are improperly disposing of fetal tissue are flat-out false. Planned Parenthood handles medical tissue like any other quality health care provider. Our agreements with vendors all require them to follow state law, and dispose of tissue accordingly. If they are not, then I will take swift action.

“This is an administration that has done everything possible to eliminate access to abortion in Ohio --- secretly writing laws, working to close health centers, and even appointing the head of Ohio Right to Life to the state medical board. We are seriously concerned that this report is not the result of meaningful investigation, but instead yet another attack on women’s access to health care in the state of Ohio intended to end our ability to continue to provide safe, legal abortion.”

Officials in eight other states (Washington, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri and South Dakota) have now cleared Planned Parenthood affiliates of all wrongdoing. In addition, seven states  (Iowa, Delaware, Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Colorado) have declined to even investigate Planned Parenthood — finding nothing to substantiate claims of wrongdoing.

In Ohio, John Kasich and his administration have proven they will do anything to ban access to safe and legal abortion.  Internal emails obtained by the Associated Press show Governor John Kasich and his administration secretly worked to craft provisions that would ban access to safe, legal abortion in Ohio.  

Kasich’s Administration has passed increasingly severe restrictions on abortion --- restrictions that have led to the shuttering of over on one-third of Ohio’s health centers that provide abortion.  Most recently, both the House and Senate have passed legislation that threatens access to reproductive care for 80,000 Ohioans

Through budget provisions and legislation, John Kasich has signed 17 anti-women’s health measures, decimating women’s access to health care in Ohio.

• He passed a budget that included cuts to Planned Parenthood funding, putting at risk the thousands of women who live in medically underserved counties in Ohio.
• He supported a budget provision that blocked grant money for state-funded rape crisis centers that refer women for abortion.
• Kasich enacted measures subjecting women to forced ultrasounds.
• He signed provisions that have shuttered 5 abortion providers in the state, making it more difficult to access safe and legal abortion in Ohio.

Of the 28 Planned Parenthood health centers in Ohio, 26 of them are in rural or medically underserved areas, meaning that without Planned Parenthood, many patients would literally have nowhere else to turn for essential, preventive reproductive health care.

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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.