disclaimer: I do not in any sense support abortion, nor do I support every action and decision Planned Parent has made.
Political cartoon from ADFLegal.org, 2015
Distribution by King Features
Distribution by King Features
Immediately after opening Planned Parenthood's website, the mission page leads with, "Planned Parenthood believes in the fundamental right of each individual through out the world to manage his or her fertility regardless of the individuals income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, origin or residence" So how is it an organization so dedicated to preserving freedom and rights remains under attack?
If you've tuned into your local news station or social media account you've more than likely witnessed the attack Planned Parenthood has been under for quite some time now. While the organization is no stranger to criticism, they have certainly never been under fire the way they are now.
This past summer, four undercover videos were released of Planned Parenthood by the Center for Medical Progress openly discussing the sale of fetal tissue and body parts for profit, rather than research. CMP released the four videos as apart of their "Human Capitol" series in which they spent three years investigating and posing as fetal tissue buyers. In one of the videos, the potential buyer speaks with Debora Nucatola, the senior director of medical services.
In the video, Nucatola explains that late term abortions are preferred, as the specimens can be sold anywhere from $30 to $100 each, though they must keep the prices reasonable as to not tip anyone off to what is going on behind the scenes. The senior medical director even goes as far to say that after a woman consents to an abortion, Planned Parenthood personal will lie to clients, tailoring their research to a medical condition the woman may have ties to, such as Alzheimer's disease, then asking the woman if she'd like to donate towards the research Planned Parenthood was conducting.
What had most viewers in an uproar was when Nucatola explained how the babies are aborted, explaining that the fetus may not always stay intact, though the important organs remain unharmed. Doing so, results in half birth abortions, which are illegal. Where most people would think this is the end of Planned Parenthood's recent nightmare, it is only the beginning.
After the four recent video's were released, more undercover footage went viral in which Planned Parenthood employees were videotaped during a consultation with a 13-year-old girl coming in for an abortion after being impregnated by 31-year-old man saying "we don't really care about who-what the age of the boyfriend is if its consensual." The employee later explained the encounter between the young girl and the man could be reported as rape.
In another video, an employee was video taped talking to a pimp and a prostitute about sex trafficking minors and the legal age for abortions. In the video, the pimp and the prostitute ask about the age of abortions and how long after the abortion until sexual activity can presume. The employee answers by saying the legal age of abortion without parents consent is 14-years-old, and then tells the two the child would have to wait two weeks until participating in sexual activity. The pimp and the prostitute then exchange comments back and forth about the child not being able to make money, and ask the worker what the child can do. The worker reacts to this question saying "above the waist." Implying the child could still participate in oral sex. It was later released that once the CEO learned about the employee's actions, she was terminated.
After hearing about the latest incidents, both supporters and non-supporters went to social media, sharing the videos across Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter. Hashtags were created by non-supporters as they tagged their tweets with #DefundPP. Hashtags by supporters were created as they tagged their tweets with #ShoutYourAbortion, sharing stories of positive abortion experiences and what it taught them.
It seems as though non-supporters made it farther with their hashtag, as the House of Representatives took away all funding for Planned Parenthood while the investigation is pending. If Planned Parenthood is found guilty, the ban on funding could last up to a year, leaving an estimated 630,000 women without preventative health care.
While the situation here may seem simple in the theory that a wrong doing took place, and a consequence took place due to the wrong doing. However, is totally banning the funding an intelligent solution? Looking at facts, I would have to say no.
While action absolutely needs to take place to stop the illegal and arguably immoral acts, banning funding for Planned Parenthood completely would take away the preventative healthcare of an estimated 630,000 women. In doing this, over 50 government affiliates would face the backlash as well as the closing of 700 health care centers nationwide. The ban on funding would end the research of birth control, end the affordable contraception offered to women, as well as end the reducing of sexually transmitted diseases through testing and treatment. in defunding PP, women would also be denied the right of cervical and breast cancer screenings.
In theory, Planned Parenthood is the organization that purely follows the American Dream. Founded in a time when birth control was not legal, the owners had launched research and new offices within ten years. To defund Planned Parenthood for good, or to pass a bill to make abortions illegal would be a step backwards for Americans. I'm sure I stand with many others beside me when I say ending funding for the organization would do more harm than it would good, however, an obvious regulation needs to take place so the recent heinous acts will never cause the organization to be in question again. I, as well as many other will be hoping for the best during Planned Parenthoods funding, Though, I do hope a drastic change and monitoring takes place in the organization nation wide.
This past summer, four undercover videos were released of Planned Parenthood by the Center for Medical Progress openly discussing the sale of fetal tissue and body parts for profit, rather than research. CMP released the four videos as apart of their "Human Capitol" series in which they spent three years investigating and posing as fetal tissue buyers. In one of the videos, the potential buyer speaks with Debora Nucatola, the senior director of medical services.
In the video, Nucatola explains that late term abortions are preferred, as the specimens can be sold anywhere from $30 to $100 each, though they must keep the prices reasonable as to not tip anyone off to what is going on behind the scenes. The senior medical director even goes as far to say that after a woman consents to an abortion, Planned Parenthood personal will lie to clients, tailoring their research to a medical condition the woman may have ties to, such as Alzheimer's disease, then asking the woman if she'd like to donate towards the research Planned Parenthood was conducting.
What had most viewers in an uproar was when Nucatola explained how the babies are aborted, explaining that the fetus may not always stay intact, though the important organs remain unharmed. Doing so, results in half birth abortions, which are illegal. Where most people would think this is the end of Planned Parenthood's recent nightmare, it is only the beginning.
After the four recent video's were released, more undercover footage went viral in which Planned Parenthood employees were videotaped during a consultation with a 13-year-old girl coming in for an abortion after being impregnated by 31-year-old man saying "we don't really care about who-what the age of the boyfriend is if its consensual." The employee later explained the encounter between the young girl and the man could be reported as rape.
In another video, an employee was video taped talking to a pimp and a prostitute about sex trafficking minors and the legal age for abortions. In the video, the pimp and the prostitute ask about the age of abortions and how long after the abortion until sexual activity can presume. The employee answers by saying the legal age of abortion without parents consent is 14-years-old, and then tells the two the child would have to wait two weeks until participating in sexual activity. The pimp and the prostitute then exchange comments back and forth about the child not being able to make money, and ask the worker what the child can do. The worker reacts to this question saying "above the waist." Implying the child could still participate in oral sex. It was later released that once the CEO learned about the employee's actions, she was terminated.
After hearing about the latest incidents, both supporters and non-supporters went to social media, sharing the videos across Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter. Hashtags were created by non-supporters as they tagged their tweets with #DefundPP. Hashtags by supporters were created as they tagged their tweets with #ShoutYourAbortion, sharing stories of positive abortion experiences and what it taught them.
It seems as though non-supporters made it farther with their hashtag, as the House of Representatives took away all funding for Planned Parenthood while the investigation is pending. If Planned Parenthood is found guilty, the ban on funding could last up to a year, leaving an estimated 630,000 women without preventative health care.
While the situation here may seem simple in the theory that a wrong doing took place, and a consequence took place due to the wrong doing. However, is totally banning the funding an intelligent solution? Looking at facts, I would have to say no.
While action absolutely needs to take place to stop the illegal and arguably immoral acts, banning funding for Planned Parenthood completely would take away the preventative healthcare of an estimated 630,000 women. In doing this, over 50 government affiliates would face the backlash as well as the closing of 700 health care centers nationwide. The ban on funding would end the research of birth control, end the affordable contraception offered to women, as well as end the reducing of sexually transmitted diseases through testing and treatment. in defunding PP, women would also be denied the right of cervical and breast cancer screenings.
In theory, Planned Parenthood is the organization that purely follows the American Dream. Founded in a time when birth control was not legal, the owners had launched research and new offices within ten years. To defund Planned Parenthood for good, or to pass a bill to make abortions illegal would be a step backwards for Americans. I'm sure I stand with many others beside me when I say ending funding for the organization would do more harm than it would good, however, an obvious regulation needs to take place so the recent heinous acts will never cause the organization to be in question again. I, as well as many other will be hoping for the best during Planned Parenthoods funding, Though, I do hope a drastic change and monitoring takes place in the organization nation wide.
Sources used:
http://plannedparenthoodexposed.com/
http://usmfreepress.org/2015/09/29/bill-passes-the-house-to-defund-planned-parenthood/
http://www.worldmag.com/2015/07/planned_parenthood_caught_selling_fetal_tissue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWQuZMvcFA8
http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/cmp/investigative-footage/
