Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Undercover Video Targets Planned Parenthood; Triggers Calls From GOP Candidates, Officials For Investigations
The Associated Press: Covert Video Targets Planned Parenthood Fetal-Parts Policy
Anti-abortion activists on Tuesday released an undercover video showing a senior Planned Parenthood official discussing the disposition of parts from aborted fetuses. The activists contended the video reveals illegalities, but Planned Parenthood said the activity in question was the legal, not-for-profit donation of fetal tissue to research firms. (7/14)
The Washington Post: Undercover Video Shows Planned Parenthood Official Discussing Fetal Organs Used For Research
The Center for Medical Progress, which recorded and edited the video, says the footage proves that Planned Parenthood is breaking the law by selling fetal organs. But the video does not show Nucatola explicitly talking about selling organs. The Planned Parenthood official says the organization is “very, very sensitive” about being perceived as illegally profiting from organ sales and charges only for the cost, for instance, of shipping the tissue. (Somashekhar and Paquette, 7/14)
Politico: GOP Candidates Call For Action After Undercover Planned Parenthood Video
Republican presidential candidates are furious about an undercover video they say shows a Planned Parenthood executive discussing the sale of fetal organs. The nearly 9-minute video, released by the Center for Medical Progress and posted on the pro-life group’s YouTube page, features Planned Parenthood’s Senior Director of Medical Services Dr. Deborah Nucatola eating a salad with a glass of wine and calmly discussing various body parts. (Collins, 7/14)
CNN: GOP Candidates Condemn Purported Planned Parenthood Video
Several Republican presidential candidates are criticizing Planned Parenthood after viewing a controversial new video circulated on Tuesday by an undercover group anti-abortion activists. (Scott, 7/14)
Tribune Wire Reports: Convert Video Targets Planned Parenthood Fetal-Parts Policy
In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is among the large field of Republican presidential candidates, directed the state health department to launch an investigation even though Planned Parenthood does not perform abortions there. The founder of the Center for Medical Progress, David Daleiden, previously worked with the anti-abortion group Live Action, which has released several undercover videos aimed at discrediting Planned Parenthood. Ferrero said the new video "falsely portrays Planned Parenthood's participation in tissue donation programs that support lifesaving scientific research." (7/14)
The Chicago Sun-Times: Ted Cruz Calls For Investigation After Planned Parenthood 'Body Parts' Video
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is calling for an immediate investigation into Planned Parenthood after a video surfaced Tuesday showing a high-level official from the organization allegedly discussing harvesting and selling fetal tissue. “Congress should immediately begin an investigation of Planned Parenthood’s activities regarding the sale and transfer of aborted body parts, including who is obtaining them and what they are being used for,” Cruz wrote in a statement late Tuesday. Other Republican candidates also seized on the video. (Sutton, 7/14)
The Texas Tribune: Abbott Launches Investigation Into Fetal Organ Preservation
After an anti-abortion group on Tuesday released an undercover video showing an executive at Planned Parenthood discussing how to preserve an aborted fetus’s organs for medical research, Gov. Greg Abbott announced an investigation into the alleged practice. “The video of a high-level Planned Parenthood executive discussing the details of internal abortion procedures — including harvesting of baby body parts — is unnerving and appalling,” Abbott said in a statement. “In light of the video, I have directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to conduct an immediate investigation of this alleged practice in addition to a separate investigation ordered by the Texas Office of the Attorney General.” (Walters, 7/14)
