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15333 Culver Dr, Ste. 340-819 Irvine, CA 92604
949.734.0859 CMP.org
SPECIALREPORT:PLANNEDPARENTHOOD’SPARTIAL-BIRTHABORTIONBUSINESS22January2019
Overview
PlannedParenthoodisthebiggestabortionproviderinAmerica.Asafranchiseofover50
regionalaffiliatesoverseenbyPlannedParenthoodFederationofAmerica,theorganizationis
responsibleforover330,000abortionseveryyear,makingupoverathirdofthenational
market.ManyPlannedParenthoodlocations,includingitsflagshipMargaretSangerClinicin
NewYorkCity,commitabortionsforanyreasonupto6monthsofpregnancy.1
PlannedParenthoodabortiondoctorsreadilyadmitthattheirlate-termabortionprocedures
presentethicalandlegaldilemmasthatevenprofessionalabortionistsfindchallenging.2The
ever-increasingsizeandfamiliarityofthesecondtrimesterfetusblursthelinebetween
abortionandinfanticideforeventhemosthardenedprofessionals,andpreterminfantshave
nowbeenrecordedassurvivingasearlyas5months.3
Thisisnowheremorereadilyapparentthaninthegrotesquepartial-birthabortionprocedure
method,inwhichalivingfetusisextractedintactfromthewombonlytobekilledinthe
processofdelivery.Theconcerntodrawabrightlineinthelawbetweenelectiveabortionand
infanticideledCongresstoenactthePartial-BirthAbortionBanActin2003,whichtheU.S.
SupremeCourtupheldin2007.Thefederalpartial-birthabortion(PBA)lawprohibits
procedureswhereafetus,whilestillalive,ispartiallydelivered,withtheintenttotakeactionto
killthefetusafterheorshehasbeendeliveredtocertainanatomicallandmarks:
(a)Anyphysicianwho,inoraffectinginterstateorforeigncommerce,knowinglyperformsapartial-birthabortionandtherebykillsahumanfetusshallbefinedunderthistitleorimprisonednotmorethan2years,orboth.[...](b)Asusedinthissection—(1)theterm“partial-birthabortion”meansanabortioninwhichthepersonperformingtheabortion—(A)deliberatelyandintentionallyvaginallydeliversalivingfetusuntil,inthecaseofahead-firstpresentation,theentirefetalheadisoutsidethebodyofthemother,or,inthe
1https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/new-york/new-york/10012/margaret-sanger-center-3325-91110/abortion
2Harris,LisaH.“SecondTrimesterAbortionProvision:BreakingtheSilenceandChangingtheDiscourse,”ReproductiveHealthMatters,2Sept2008.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1016/S0968-8080(08)31396-23Stolletal,“TrendsinCarePractices,Morbidity,andMortalityofExtremelyPretermNeonates,1993—2012,”JAMA,11March2016.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4787615/
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caseofbreechpresentation,anypartofthefetaltrunkpastthenavelisoutsidethebodyofthemother,forthepurposeofperforminganovertactthatthepersonknowswillkillthepartiallydeliveredlivingfetus;and(B)performstheovertact,otherthancompletionofdelivery,thatkillsthepartiallydeliveredlivingfetus;18U.S.C.1531.Partial-birthabortionsprohibited.4
Althoughfederallawhasprohibitedpartial-birthabortionsfor12years,CMP’sinvestigative
journalismsurfacedtroublingadmissionsthatPlannedParenthood—thebiggestabortion
businessinthecountry—hasneverhonestlyattemptedtocomplywiththelawandhasinstead
activelycircumventedit.Onundercoverfootage,PlannedParenthoodmedicaldirectorsand
executivesdescribedabortionsinvolvingintact,livingfetusesandproceduresidenticaltothose
prohibitedbylaw—andtheyroutinelypointedtospecificPlannedParenthoodprotocolsas
providingthelegalloopholetodoso.Newprimary-sourcedocuments,neverbeforereleased
publicly,nowcorroboratethesestatementsonthevideos,whichafederalappealscourt
recentlyruledwereevidencethatPlannedParenthoodcommitscriminalpartial-birth
abortions.5TheongoingrevelationsaboutPlannedParenthood’sparticipationinharvestingand
sellingabortedbabybodypartsshowtheincentivesthatmajorabortioncentershavetoresort
toillegalmethodssuchasPBA,andincreasetheurgencyforU.S.DepartmentofJusticeand
otherenforcementagenciestoholdBigAbortionaccountabletothelaw.
PlannedParenthood’sAdmissionsonUndercoverVideo
AtabusinesslunchmeetingonJuly25,2014,PlannedParenthood’sthen-SeniorDirectorof
MedicalServices,Dr.DeborahNucatola,describedtopotentialbabybodypartsharvestersthe
customtechniquesthatsheandotherPlannedParenthoodabortionproviderscouldusetoget
moreintactbodypartsfromlatetermabortions:
PPFA:I’dsayalotofpeoplewantliver.Andforthatreason,mostproviderswilldothiscaseunderultrasoundguidance,sothey’llknowwherethey’reputtingtheirforceps.Thekindofrate-limitingstepoftheprocedureisthecalvarium,theheadisbasicallythebiggestpart.Mostoftheotherstuffcancomeoutintact.It’sveryraretohaveapatientthatdoesn’thaveenoughdilationtoevacuatealltheotherpartsintact.Buyer:Tobringthebodycavityoutintactandallthat?PPFA:Exactly.Sothenyou’rejustkindofcognizantofwhereyouputyourgraspers,youtrytointentionallygoaboveandbelowthethorax,sothat,youknow,we’vebeenverygoodatgettingheart,lung,liver,becauseweknow,soI’mnotgonnacrushthatpart,I’mgoingtobasicallycrushbelow,I’mgonnacrushabove,andI’mgonnaseeifIcangetitallintact.Andwiththecalvarium,ingeneral,somepeoplewillactuallytrytochange
4https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1531
5page9,PlannedParenthoodetalv.Smith(17-50282),5th
CircuitCourtofAppeals,17Jan2019.
http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/17/17-50282-CV0.pdf
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thepresentationsothatit’snotvertex,becausewhenit’svertexpresentation,youneverhaveenoughdilationatthebeginningofthecase,unlessyouhavereal,hugeamountofdilationtodeliveranintactcalvarium.Soifyoudoitstartingfromthebreechpresentation,there’sdilationthathappensasthecasegoeson,andoften,thelast,youcanevacuateanintactcalvariumattheend.SoImeantherearecertainlystepsthatcanbetakentotrytoensure—Buyer:Sotheycanconverttobreech,forexampleatthestartofthe—PPFA:Exactly,exactly.Underultrasoundguidance,theycanjustchangethepresentation.6
Shockingly,theseriesofstepsthatPlannedParenthood’sSeniorDirectorofMedicalServices
described—flippingthefetustoafeet-firstpresentation,carefullypullingthebodyoutintactin
ordertograduallyincreasethedilationofthepatient’scervix,andfinallybeingabletoremove
eventhefetalheadinonepiece—matchesuppreciselywiththelegalandclinicdefinitionsof
partial-birthabortion.7
Dr.Nucatolastatedthatusingthismethodofabortiontoobtainintactfetalbodyparts,“We’vebeenprettysuccessfulwiththat,I’dsay.”8
6Dr.DeborahNucatolaconversationwithundercoverinvestigators,25July2014:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMX7gIPEVss
7AttachmentA:ComparisonofPartial-BirthAbortionDescriptions
8SeeDr.Nucatolaconversation25July2014,http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/wp-
content/uploads/2015/05/PPFAtranscript072514_final.pdfandhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4UjIM9B9KQ
Fig. 1: PPFA Senior Director of Medical Services describes partial-birth abortions to harvest body parts, 2014.
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ThiswasnottheonlytimethatPlannedParenthoodmedicaldirectorsinformedCMP
investigatorsthatlate-termfetusescouldbedeliveredintactatPlannedParenthoodfacilitiesin
theinterestsofobtainingmoremarketablebodyparts.OnFebruary28,2015,Dr.Jennefer
Russo,theMedicalDirectorofPlannedParenthoodOrange&SanBernardinoCounties,told
CMPinvestigators,“Ithink,mostofushavetrainedtonothavefullintactspecimens,”butadmitted,“Ithappenssometimes,butit’sprettyrare.But,wetry,”whendiscussingPPOSBC’srelationshipsupplyingfetalorgansandtissuestobabybodypartssalescompaniesDaVinci
BiosciencesandDVBiologics.9
TheDVCompaniesweresuccessfullyprosecutedin2017bytheOrangeCountyDistrict
AttorneyforsellingabortedfetalbodypartsfromPlannedParenthoodforprofitagainst
Californiaandfederallaw.Thecompaniesadmittedguiltina$7.8millionsettlement,andthe
OrangeCountyDistrictAttorneycreditedCMP’sundercovervideoworkforpromptingthe
successfulcase.10
OtherPlannedParenthoodmedicaldirectorsconfirmedthatthedeliveryofanintactfetusis
somethingthatcanpredictablyoccurinthepracticeof2nd-trimesterabortion.OnApril7,2015,
Dr.SavitaGinde,theVicePresidentandChiefMedicalOfficerofPlannedParenthoodofthe
RockyMountains,toldCMPinvestigatorsinquiringabout2nd-trimesterproceduresatherclinic
that,“Intactislessthan10%,”andremarked,“Sometimes,weget,ifsomeonedeliversbeforeweareabletoseethemforaprocedurethentheyareintact.”11
9Dr.JenneferRussoconversationwithundercoverattendeesatPlannedParenthoodMedicalDirectorsConference,27February2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w8oLs6VsFs10Langhorne,Daniel,“Firmsreach$7.8millionsettlementoverallegationsofsellingfetaltissue,”LosAngelesTimes,9Dec2017.
https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-fetal-tissue-20171209-story.html
SeealsoOCDAPressRelease:http://orangecountyda.org/civica/press/display.asp?Entry=540611Dr.SavitaGindeconversationwithundercoverinvestigatorsatPlannedParenthoodRockyMountains,7April2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8QOC20DiPY
Fig. 2: Diagram of the typical partial-birth abortion procedure
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Ofnote,feticideslikedigoxincannotbeusedinanabortionthatwillyieldfetalbodypartsfor
saleandexperimentation,becausethedigoxinkillsthetissuesandcellsandrendersthem
biologicallyinert.
Feticideslikedigoxintypicallyservetwopurposesforabortionproviders.Thefederalpartial-
birthabortionbanisonlyoperativeifthefetusisaliveatthetimeofthepartial-deliveryduring
theabortion.Itdoesnotapplytoafetuswhoisalreadydeadatthetimetheprocedureis
done—forexample,ifthefetushasbeenkilledusingafeticidelikedigoxin.Ifthefetushasbeen
killedwithdigoxinbeforetheabortion,italsoobviatestheproblemofanintactfetusbeing
aliveoutsidethewombandtheproviderbeinginvolvedinafetalhomicide.12
WhenDr.RussoremarkedonbeingabletoobtainfullyintactfetusesatPPOSBC,shealso
statedthatPPOSBCwasnotusingdigoxintokillthefetusbeforetheabortion,becausethere
was“anationwideshortageofdig[oxin].”
Dr.Nucatolaexplainedthatmanyabortionprovidersturnedtodigoxininthewakeofthe
federalPBAlawinordertoensurecompliancewiththelaw.Butshealsodescribedasecond
wayPlannedParenthooddoctorsmightapproachtheproblemincaseswheredigoxinwasnot
used:
Providerswhousedigoxinusitforoneoftworeasons.There’sagroupofpeoplewhouseitsotheyhavenoriskofviolatingtheFederalAbortionBan.Becauseifyouinduceademisebeforetheprocedure,nobody’sgoingtosayyoudida“live”—whateverthefederalgovernmentcallsit.“Partial-birthabortion.”It’snotamedicalterm,itdoesn’texistinreality.Sosomepeopleuseittoavoidprovidinga“partial-birthabortion.”[…]TheFederalAbortionBanisalaw,andlawsareuptointerpretation.Sotherearesomepeoplewhointerpretitas,it'sintent.SoifIsayonDay1,Idonotintendtodothis,whatultimatelyhappensdoesn’tmatter.BecauseIdidn’tintendtodothisonDay1soI’mcomplyingwiththelaw.”13
Dr.SuziePrabhakaran,theVPofMedicalAffairsforPlannedParenthoodofSouthwestand
CentralFloridaexplainedthisPlannedParenthood“intent”loopholeforthepartial-birth
abortionbanasa“checkbox”thatabortionproviderssimplyhavetomarkinthepatientrecord:
“So,like,there'slikeacheckboxthatsays,“Iintendtou”--soitwouldbebeforetheprocedure,youdoyourevaluation,youwrite,‘Iintendtoutilizedismembermenttechniquesforthisprocedure.’”14
TramNguyen,theSurgicalCenterAdministratorforPlannedParenthoodGulfCoast,toldCMP
investigatorsonApril9,2015:“Wecannotreallyintendtocompletetheprocedureintact—you12SeeSocietyofFamilyPlanningClinicalguidelinesfor“Inductionoffetaldemisebeforeabortion”
https://www.contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-7824(10)00019-3/pdfand“Laborinductionabortioninthesecondtrimester”
https://www.contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-7824(11)00057-6/pdf13Dr.DeborahNucatolaconversationwithundercoverinvestigators,25July2014:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w6f_c0DReE
14Dr.SuziePrabhakaranconversationwithundercoverattendeesatPlannedParenthoodMedicalDirectorsConference,
27February2015:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-JZU7ckYTY
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can'tintendto,butithappens.”15NguyenconfirmedthatPPGCabortionprovidersusean
“intentstatement”tosimply“document”anon-culpablepurposebeforetheabortion,
regardlessoftheactualconductoftheprocedureitself:“There’sanintentstatementwhichyouhavetodocument.”ThefederalFifthCircuitCourtofAppealsfoundtheseadmissionswere
evidenceofPlannedParenthood’sviolationofthefederalpartial-birthabortionban,finding
thatNguyen“stated,sarcastically,thatwhilefederallaw(prohibitingpartialbirthabortions)
restrictsafacilityfromintentionallyretrievinganintactfetus,PPGCcanmakeithappenby
signingaformthattheydidnotso‘intend.’”16
PlannedParenthood’sManualofMedicalStandards&Guidelines
Forthefirsttime,CMPisnowreleasingprimarysourcePPFAdocumentsthatconfirmthe
existenceofthe“intentstatement”loopholeforthepartial-birthabortionlawthatPlanned
Parenthoodmedicaldirectorsfrequentlyinvoked.Thisso-called“documentation”requirement
asprescribedbyPPFAiscompletelyuntetheredfromtheactualrequirementsofthefederallaw,
andindicatesthatPlannedParenthoodismoreintentoncircumventingthelawthanfollowing
itfaithfully.
PlannedParenthoodFederationofAmericapublishesanationalManualofMedicalStandards&
Guidelines,whichsetstheoperatingprotocolsforallPlannedParenthoodlocationsnationwide.
TheSeniorDirectorofMedicalServicesisresponsibleformaintainingtheManualofMedical
Standards&Guidelines(MS&Gs).17The2014versionpresentedinthisreleasewasmaintained
byPlannedParenthood’sthen-SeniorDirectorofMedicalServices,Dr.DeborahNucatola,and
wascontrollingatthetimethemedicaldirectorsmadetheirstatementsonundercovervideo.
WhiletheMS&GsStandardsforsurgicalabortionstatethat“Mid-trimesterabortionmustbeperformedinamannerthatcomplieswiththefederalPartialBirthAbortionBanActof2003
(the‘federalabortionban’),”18theStandardsandGuidelinesforthemedicalrecordsofthe
abortionofferPlannedParenthoodabortiondoctorsaloopholetofeigncompliancewiththe
PBAlaw.TheabortionrecordsStandardsrequire“DocumentationoftheFederalAbortionBan
at2stages,”19suchthatthePlannedParenthoodabortiondoctorfirst:
Priortoabortionprocedure,mustdocumentintenttocomplywithFederalAbortionBan• Byuseoffetocide• Byumibilicalcordinterruption• Byplantoevacuatetheuterususingmultiplepasses[oftheforceps]toremove
thefetusinmultipleparts• Byplantoevacuateuterusentirelywithsuction
15TramNguyenconversationwithundercoverinvestigatorsatPlannedParenthoodGulfCoast,9April2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7sHYoVQneI16page9,PlannedParenthoodetalv.Smithetal,5th
Circuit(17-50282).17http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2014-PPFA-MSGs-Parts-1-3-Archive-with-Errata-NMC-2014-
Recommendations.pdf18MS&GsPart2,Chapter1,Section1.2.5.I.C,page127
19MS&GsPart1,Chapter5,Table5.2.a,pages48-49
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• Other(describe)
Andthensecond:
Aftercompletionofabortionprocedure,mustdocumentthatfetaldemiseoccurredbeforetheprocedureorbeforepassageoftheanatomicallandmarksoutlinedintheFederalAbortionBanandtechniqueemployed–optionsinclude:
• Ultrasoundpriortotheprocedureconfirmedabsenceoffetalcardiacactivity• Umbilicalcordwastransectedandlackofpulsationwasconfirmedpriorto
procedure(bypalpationorultrasound)• Multiplepasseswereusedtoremovethefetusinmultipleparts• Theuteruswasevacuatedentirelywithsuction• Other(describe)
Astandardforauthenticmedicalrecordswouldsimplyrequirethatthedoctorrecordwhat
actuallyhappensintheabortionprocedure.Arequirementthattheabortionprovider“mustdocument”acleanoutcomeinthemedicalrecordaftertheabortionprocedureisawayto
ensurethatregardlessofwhatactuallyhappensintheabortion,PlannedParenthood’srecord
willappearspotless.Thefederal5thCircuitCourtofAppealsquestionedthissurprisingaspectof
PPFA’sMedicalStandards&Guidelineswhenitwasraisedatarecenthearing,sayingofthe
federalPartial-BirthAbortionban’:“Wellit’snotamatterof‘documenting’it,it’scomplyingwiththeactualityofit.”20
Thisisthesame“intent”documentationthatDr.Prabhakarandescribedassimplya“checkbox,”
andwhichDr.Nucatola,theauthoroftheMS&Gs,explainedsaying,“SoifIsayonDay1,‘Idonotintendtodothis,’whatultimatelyhappensdoesn’tmatter.”
WhilePPFA’sManualofStandards&Guidelineslaysoutsuchanelaboratepaperworkscheme
todealwiththepartial-birthabortionlaw,theManualhasnosimilarrequirementsorprotocols
to“documentcompliance”withthefederalBorn-AliveInfantsProtectionActorstatefetal
homicidelaws.Yetsurprisingly,theManualofStandards&Guidelinessectionsandforms
dealingwithlater2nd-trimesterabortionsactuallystatethatlaboranddeliveryisadistinct
possibilityinPlannedParenthood’slate-termabortionpractice.
TheMS&Gsstatethatusingdigoxin(absentinfetalorganandtissueharvestingcases)
“decreasestheriskofalivebirth”,butthesameMS&Gsmanualalsonotesthatdigoxinmayfail
tokillthefetusin8%ofcases,potentiallyupto15%ofcasesdependingonthedosage.21The
MS&Gsfurtherstatethat“Onsetoflabor–canresultindeliveryoutsidethePPhealthfacility”22insomebotcheddigoxincases,andthatlaboranddelivery“beforethein-clinicabortion”isa
2028:50inrecordingof5
thCircuitargumentPlannedParenthoodv.Smith,17-50282,June4,2018:
http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/17/17-50282_6-4-2018.MP321SeeMS&Gs“ClientInformationforInformedConsentDigoxin”,page807,andPart2,Chapter1,Table1.4.a,Topic“RisksandSideEffectsof
Digoxin”,page14122SeeMS&GsPart2,Chapter1,Table1.4.a,“RisksandSideEffectsofDigoxin”
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possibleoutcomeofPlannedParenthood’scervicalpreparationprotocolsfor2nd-trimester
abortion.23
Indeed,duringapresentationatPlannedParenthood’sMedicalDirectorsCouncilconferencein
2015,onemedicaldirectorasked,“Wasthereanydifferencewithexpulsionrate?”withnewexperimentalcervicaldilationprotocolsbeforeabortion,comparedwith“usingmiso[prostol]thatnextday,becausethat’swhenweseeourexpulsions.”ACMPinvestigatoraskedDr.
Nucatola,“Thosearefetal,ordilator,expulsions?”andDr.Nucatolareplied,“Fetal.”Chillingly,thepresenter,Dr.AlisaGoldbergofPlannedParenthoodofMassachusetts,answeredthe
audiencequestionthisway:“Wehadonepatientinthemiso,inthemiso[prostol]armwhowasintheprocessofexpelling[thefetus],andshewentintotheprocedureroomandhadtheprocedurecompletedsoshedidn’tquiteexpel.”24Theseappeartobeprimafacieadmissionsof
illegalpartial-birthabortionandborn-aliveinfantcases.
Alsoshockingly,Dr.NucatolatestifiedbeforetheHouseEnergy&CommerceCommittee’s
SelectInvestigativePanelontheissueoffetusesdeliveredaliveduringalate-termabortion
procedurethat“ouraffiliatesdon’tprovideobstetricalcase.Sotherefore,theydon’tknowhowtomanageaterminfantoraprematureinfant.”25However,PlannedParenthood’snationalmedicalprotocoldocumentsandthecandidstatementsofitsmedicaldirectorsindicatethat
thebirthsofprematureinfantsduringabortionproceduresarepredictableandanticipated.
Partial-BirthAbortionandPlannedParenthood’sBabyBodyPartsBusiness
ThebusinessrelationshipthatPlannedParenthoodestablishedwithfetalorganandtissue
procurementcompanieslikeStemExpress,AdvancedBioscienceResources,andNovogenix
LaboratoriesprovidedfinancialincentivesforPlannedParenthoodabortionprovidestotake
advantageoftheloopholesintheManualofMedicalStandards&Guidelinestocommitpartial-
birthabortionsandobtainmoreintact,marketablefetalbodyparts.
Forexample,PlannedParenthoodMarMontesignedacontractwithStemExpressinwhich
StemExpresswouldonlypayPlannedParenthoodMarMontefor“productsofconception”—definedinthecontractas“anyfetalorgan”—thatwere“determinedintheclinictobeusable.”26Meanwhile,PlannedParenthoodPacificSouthwestwasonlypaidunderitscontract
withABRforeachfetalspecimenactually“providedtoABR,”whichABR’scontracttemplate
clarifiesmeans“providedtoandusedbyABR.”Thesequalifiersmeanthatevenifapregnant
womanconsentstofetaltissueprocurementfromherabortion,PlannedParenthoodwillnot
getpaidifStemExpressorABRcannotobtainanysaleable“productsofconception”fromher
abortion.
23SeeMS&Gs“ClientInformationforInformedConsentOpeningtheCervixwithDilatorsand/orPills”,page812
24presentationofDr.AlisaGoldberg,“OptimizingcervicalpreparationbeforesecondtrimesterD&E,”recordedatPlannedParenthoodMedical
DirectorsConference,27February2015:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0jcHE0aHrk25page22ofSelectInvestigativePanelFinalReport:https://archives-
energycommerce.house.gov/sites/republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/Select_Investigative_Panel_Final_Report.pdf26AttachmentB:PlannedParenthoodContractswithFetalOrganandTissueProcurementCompanies
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ABR’sandStemExpress’customerdemandtypicallyrequireslate2nd-trimesterabortedfetal
organsandtissues.Inordertohaveviablestemcells,thebodypartsfromtheabortedfetus
mustbeasintactaspossibleandafeticidelikedigoxincannothavebeenusedtokillthefetus
beforetheabortionprocedure.Highqualityorgansarealsoeasiertoidentifyandmorelikelyto
beharvestedfromafetusthatisabortedintact,insteadofafetusthatistornapartthrougha
dismembermentabortionprocedure.
SincePlannedParenthoodonlygetspaidforthefetalspecimensthatare“usable”bythe
procurementcompanies,andStemExpressandABRneedviable,intact,late-termbodyparts,
contractssuchasthesecreateaperfectstormofmarketdemandtomakeillegalpartial-birth
abortionsandevenborn-aliveinfantcasesfarmorelikelyanddesirable.
CateDyer,theCEOandfounderofStemExpress,admittedthistoCMPinvestigatorsinMay
2015:“Ohyeah,Imean,ifyouhaveintactcases,whichwe’vedonealot,wesometimesshipthosebacktoourlabinitsentirety.”27HollyO’Donnell,aformerprocurementtechnicianfor
StemExpress,alsotestifiedthatsheobservedthispractice:“IrememberitwasmydayoffandIwentonmylaptopandAIMpoppedupandtheywereworking.AndIreadamessagesayingthatthedoctorhadabortedafullyintactfetus,fullyintact.AndStemExpresswassendingitstraighttothelab.”28
27CateDyerconversationwithundercoverinvestigators,22May2015:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2-ZE0JTxgw
28HollyO’Donnellinterview,27December2014:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzMAycMMXp8
Fig. 3: StemExpress founder & CEO Cate Dyer admits shipping intact fetuses back to laboratory, 2015.
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ThiswasnottheonlytimeaprocurementcompanyworkingwithPlannedParenthood
describedexperienceswithfetusesbeingdeliveredaliveinanabortionclinic.InJune2013,ABR
ProcurementManagerPerrinLartontoldanundercoveractor:
Iliterallyhavehadwomencomeinandthey’llgointheOR,andthey’rebackoutin3minutes,andI’mgoing,“What’sgoin’on?”“Ohyeah,thefetuswasalreadyinthevaginalcanal,wheneverweputherinthestirrups,itjustfellout.”29
Itiscriticaltorememberthattheabortioncasesslatedforbodypartsharvestingdescribedby
procurementcompanyrepresentativesareallcaseswherethefetuscannothavebeenkilled
beforetheprocedurebydigoxin,andthereforeisaliveatthetimeofdelivery.
Dr.KatharineSheehanisthelongtimeMedicalDirectorforPlannedParenthoodofthePacific
Southwestwhostillprovidesabortionsfortheaffiliate.InMarch2004duringthefederal
Partial-BirthAbortionlawsuits,Dr.Sheehantestifiedunderoaththatfetusescomingout
completelyintactduringtheabortionprocedurewasapredictablepartofherlate-term
abortionpracticeatPlannedParenthoodPacificSouthwest:30
29PerrinLartonconversationwithundercoverattendeesatInternationalSocietyofStemCellResearchmeeting,13June,2013:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWJb78ynVT830PlannedParenthoodv.Ashcroft,transcriptofproceedingsMarch30,2004:http://www.priestsforlife.org/pba/caday2.pdf
Fig. 4: ABR Procurement Manager Perrin Larton says she saw live fetuses born in the clinics, 2013.
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Q.Dr.Sheehan,haveyoueverhadasituationwherethefetuscomesoutintactorpartiallyintact?A.Yes,Ihave.Q.Andhowoftendoesthatoccur?A.Itcomesoutpartiallyintactveryfrequently;completelyintact,lessso.JustlastweekIwasworkingwitharesidentfromUCSD,andwehadthreeofour12casesproceedsothatthebodyofthefetuscameoutcompletelyintact.Q.Doyouhaveapreferenceastowhetherthefetuscomesoutintactorpartiallyintact?A.Idefinitelydo.Ipreferitcomeoutintact.(Dr.SheehanDirectExamination,188:5-15)
Q.AretheresituationswhereyouweredoingaD&Eandtherewassufficientdilationtoremovethefetus,exceptforthehead?A.Yes.Q.Anddoesithappen--howoftendoesthathappen?A.Thathappensfairlyfrequently.Infact,IhavebeenworkingwitharesidentfromUCSD,asIalludedearlier,andjustlastweekthreeofour12proceduresproceededinthisway.Q.Andwhyisitfrequentthatthefetusemergesexceptforthehead?A.Theheadisthelargestpartofthefetalbody.Q.Andwhatdoyoudowhenthathappens?Whatisyourprocedure?A.Typically,Icontinuetoputtractiononthefetalbody.Ifitisabletoslidethroughthecervicalaperture,thenitwill.(Dr.SheehanDirectExamination,193:5-21)
Q.AndMr.Simpsonalsoaskedyouaseriesofquestionsaboutthepercentoftimewhenyouwereabletoremovethefetusintact.Doyourememberthatseriesofquestions?A.Yes.Q.AndIbelieveyouindicateditwasonepercentofthetime?A.Yes.Q.Inthatlineofquestioning,whatdidyoumeanby"intact”?A.Imeanwhentheentirefetusiscompletelyintact.Q.Sodoestheonepercentincludethesituationwherethefetusisremoveduptotheneckandthenafurtherprocedureisusedtocomplete–A.No,Imeanthefetusisentirelyintactwhenit'sextracted.(Dr.SheehanRedirect,271:20-272:8)
Dr. Sheehan at a PPPS event, 2016.
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Accordingtohermedicallicense,Dr.SheehanisstillpracticingatPlannedParenthoodPacific
SouthwestinSanDiego.31IfanyoftheabortionsDr.Sheehandescribedinsworntestimony
weretoyieldfetaltissueforABR(whichhadalreadybeenworkingwithPPPSfor5yearsatthe
timeofDr.Sheehan’stestimony),thefetuswasaliveatthetimeoftheabortionprocedureand
these“intact”fetusesrepresentpartial-birthabortions,andinthecaseofafetus“entirely
intact,”aborn-aliveinfant.
ApplyingDr.Sheehan’s1%rateof“entirelyintact”fetuses,statedinhertestimony,toPPPS’s
17,000abortionsperyearyieldsanestimateof170born-aliveinfantsperyearatPlanned
ParenthoodPacificSouthwestbetweentheSanDiegoandRiversideabortioncenters.
Conclusion
InDecember2016,theSenateJudiciaryCommitteeandtheHouseSelectInvestigativePanel
madecriminalreferralsofPlannedParenthoodandtheprocurementcompaniestotheFBIand
theU.S.DepartmentofJusticeforsellingabortedfetalorgansandtissuesforprofit32,andin
December2017,DOJannouncedthatPlannedParenthoodandtheprocurementcompanies
wereunderactiveinvestigation.33Asthefederalappealscourtshavenowconfirmed,CMP’s
undercoverevidenceindicatesthatPlannedParenthoodalsoviolatesthepartial-birthabortion
law.ThecorroboratingdocumentsfromPlannedParenthood’slate-termabortionprotocols
makeitimperativethatlawenforcementandregulatoryauthoritiestakeintoaccountthe
severeviolationofhumanrightsanddignitythatthisdisturbingpartofPlannedParenthood’s
abortionbusinessrepresents.
31LicenseG30650forDr.KatharineSheehan,registeredatcorporateaddressofPlannedParenthoodPacificSouthwest,
https://search.dca.ca.gov/details/8002/G/30650/ab25943ae8b1f011a1db0f9a1cb3f53932Seehttps://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-refers-planned-parenthood-fetal-tissue-procurement-organizations-fbi
andhttps://archives-energycommerce.house.gov/news-center/press-releases/select-panel-refers-numerous-entities-further-investigation-
possible33Fandos,Nicholas,“JusticeDept.investigatingFetalTissueTransfersbyPlannedParenthoodandOthers,”TheNewYorkTimes,8Dec2017.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/us/politics/planned-parenthood-fetal-tissue-transfers-federal-investigation.html
ATTACHMENTA:COMPARISONOFPARTIAL-
BIRTHABORTIONDESCRIPTIONS
1992Dr.M
artinHaskell(NAFClinicalPaper)
2003Partial-BirthAbortionBan
Act(18USC1531)
2014PPFASeniorDirectorofM
edicalServices
Step1:Ultrasound
Guidance
…placesanultrasoundprobeonthepatient's
abdomenandscansthefetus…
Theterm‘partial-birth
abortion’meansanabortion
inwhich…
“…mostprovidersw
illdothiscaseunderultrasoundguidance…
Step2:Graspbaby’slegswith
forceps
Thesurgeonintroducesalargegraspingforcep…
Baseduponhisknow
ledgeoffetalorientation,hem
ovesthetipoftheinstrum
entcarefullytowardsthefetallow
erextrem
ities.Whentheinstrum
entappearsonthesonogram
screen,thesurgeonisabletoopenandcloseitsjaw
stofirmlyand
reliablygraspalowerextrem
ity.
…thepersonperform
ingtheabortiondeliberatelyandintentionally…
…sothey’llknow
wherethey’reputtingtheir
forceps.”“Sothenyou’rejustkindofcognizantofw
hereyouputyourgraspers,youtrytointentionallygoaboveandbelow
thethorax,sothat,youknow,
we’vebeenverygoodatgettingheart,lung,liver,
becauseweknow
that,soI’mnotgonnacrushthat
part,I’mgoingtobasicallycrushbelow
,I’mgonna
crushabove…”
Step3:Flipthebabyfeet-first
Thesurgeonthenappliesfirmtractiontothe
instrumentcausingaversionofthefetus
…inthecaseofbreech
presentation…
“Underultrasoundguidance,theycanjustchange
thepresentation.”
Step4:Pullthebodyoutintact
thesurgeonuseshisfingerstodelivertheoppositelow
erextremity,thenthetorso,
theshouldersandtheupperextremities.
Theskulllodgesattheinternalcervicalos.Usuallythereisnotenoughdilationforitto
passthrough.Thefetusisorienteddorsum
orspineup.
…vaginallydeliversaliving
fetus…
“Thekindofrate-limitingstepoftheprocedureis
thecalvarium,theheadisbasicallythebiggest
part.Mostoftheotherstuffcancom
eoutintact.”“Buyer:Tobringthebodycavityoutintactandall
that?PP:Exactly.”
Step5:Evacuatethebaby’shead
Thesurgeonremovesthescissorsand
introducesasuctioncatheterintothisholeandevacuatestheskullcontents.W
iththecatheterstillinplace,heappliestractiontothefetus,rem
ovingitcompletelyfrom
thepatient.
…forthepurposeof
performinganovertactthat
thepersonknowsw
illkillthepartiallydeliveredlivingfetus…
“Soifyoudoitstartingfromthebreech
presentation,there’sdilationthathappensasthecasegoeson,andoften,thelaststep,youcanevacuateanintactcalvarium
attheend.”
ATTACHMENTB:PLANNEDPARENTHOODCONTRACTSWITHFETALORGANANDTISSUE
PROCUREMENTCOMPANIES