How involved is Planned Parenthood in selling fetal body parts?

Key Players in Video:

  • Vanessa Russo; Compliance Program Administrator, Planned Parenthood Keystone
  • Deb VanDerhei; National Director, Consortium of Abortion Providers (CAPS), Planned Parenthood Federation of America
  • Dr. Carolyn Westhoff; Sr. Medical Advisor, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
  • Dr. Vanessa Cullins; Vice President for External Medical Affairs, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
  • Dr. Deborah Nucatola; Sr. Director of Medical Services, Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Key Points:

Planned Parenthood is afraid of the truth coming out:

  • Dr. Carolyn Westhoff – “Obviously, we would have the potential for a huge…PR issue doing this.”
  • Dr. Vanessa Cullins “This could destroy your company and us, if we don’t time those conversations correctly.”
  • Deb Vanderhei “The headlines would be a disaster.”
  • Deb VanDerhei – Speaking of affiliates, “If you do decide that you want to engage in remuneration, that you really need to, like, think that through. And think, “New York Times headline,” when you’re creating your policy.”

Some Planned Parenthood Affiliates do profit from the sale of fetal body parts

  • Deb VanDerhei – “We have independent colleagues who generate a fair amount of income doing this. And if they have smaller margins or don’t have the ability to fundraise because they’re not a non-profit, that’s really helpful.”

Planned Parenthood Federation of America will not make a policy on selling fetal tissue, but will help local affiliates with the process.

  • Deb VanDerhei – asks specifically about “remuneration.” She has been talking with the Executive Director of the National Abortion Federation saying, “We’re trying to figure this out as an industry, about how we’re going to handle remuneration. The headlines would be a disaster.”
  • Deb Nucatola – “No. There are guidelines on research, but there are no guidelines on tissue procurement. And there will never be guidelines.” Making it clear that PPFA will not be involved nationally, but local affiliates may at their own risk.
  • Deb Nucatola – “But, “If they’re gonna participate in something like this (selling fetal tissue), you know, there are mechanisms by which contracts can be reviewed and things like that, but there are no guidelines.”

Selling fetal body parts is not research

  • Deb Nucatola understands that even treating the sale of fetal tissue as research is “kind of overkill because we didn’t have a particular IRB approved study.”
  • Vanessa Russo – “A company like this that wants to, wants to give our organization money for the tissue, I think that’s a valid exchange. And that that’s okay.”

Planned Parenthood will not back down

  • Vanessa Russo – “We feel like we can’t consent to be bullied by ridiculous laws and this media that doesn’t understand the big picture…I don’t feel like we should participate in discussions based on crap.”
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