The Center for Medical Progress has released yet another video in its series documenting meetings with Planned Parenthood officials from around the country.
The latest video covers a meeting with a representatives of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. Undercover investigators met with Melissa Farrell, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast’s Director of Research, to discuss the “specimens” (i.e. organs and tissue from aborted babies) Planned Parenthood has to offer researchers.
Over the course of the meeting, Ms. Farrell describes the “diversification of revenue” she offers Planned Parenthood–apparently through the “reimbursements” Planned Parenthood receives in exchange for the fetal remains it “donates” to researchers.
Conversation also touched on the availability of “intact fetal cadavers” from abortions–that is, aborted babies that have not been dismembered by the abortion process. When asked if doctors could change the abortion procedure to maximize the number of “specimens” available for research, Ms. Farrell replied,
“Yeah, so if we alter our process, and we are able to obtain intact fetal cadavers, then we can make it part of the budget, that any dissections are this [much money], and splitting the specimens into different shipments is this [much money]. I mean that’s–it’s all just a matter of line items.”
Federal law prohibits “alteration of the timing, method, or procedures used to terminate the pregnancy” in order to procure fetal tissue for research. In other words, it arguably is illegal to change an abortion procedure in order to maximize the likelihood of procuring an intact liver or other organ for researchers.
Later in the video, investigators went into a room in the clinic in which aborted fetal organs were stored. Investigators asked if they could see “any fresh specimens” from that day. In the video, one clinic worker laughs at the question, replying, “We had a really long day, and they’re all mixed up together in a bag.”
Eventually, the investigators were brought a large tray of organs and tissue. At one point, the man recording the undercover video uses a pair of tweezers to raise a tiny, intact arm and hand from among the remains.
Another clinic worker remarks that even though the clinic uses conscious sedation for its surgical abortions, some women may find the abortion procedure painful. The implication is that conscious sedation may not be sufficient for a procedure as painful as surgical abortion.
At the end of the video, two clinic employees converse about Planned Parenthood’s fetal tissue programs. One asks, “Any idea why the other affiliates in Texas think it’s illegal?”
The other worker responds incredulously, “Really?”
You can watch the 15 minute, 45 second video below. The video shows aborted fetal remains at one point. Viewer discretion is advised.
Updated 8/7/15: Below is the unedited footage. It is roughly 5 hours and 45 minutes long. Viewer discretion is advised.
