Still A Red-Hot Topic, Abortion Debate Spotlight Shines On Colorado
DENVER (CBS4/AP) - There are growing questions over undercover videos of Planned Parenthood leaders discussing the use of aborted fetuses.
The videos have ignited passions on both sides of the abortion debate and sparked a potential showdown in Congress, where Republicans are increasingly focused on cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood.
The Center for Medical Progress has recently released several secretly recorded videos that have riled anti-abortion activists, including one Thursday of a Planned Parenthood doctor in Colorado. It has accused Planned Parenthood of selling fetal tissue for profit, which is illegal.
The undercover video released Thursday shows Dr. Savita Ginde, vice president of Denver-based Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, discussing prices of aborted fetal remains in April, the center says.
Planned Parenthood issued a statement calling the video "misleading and deceptively edited."
Planned Parenthood says it abides by a law that allows providers to be reimbursed for the costs of processing tissue donated by women who have had abortions.
Demonstators gathered outside the Planned Parenthood gates in Denver on Friday. Supporters continued their backing but those opposed to abortion carried signs making direct reference to the Colorado video.
Susan Sutherland of Colorado Right to Life's protest included displaying toy baby parts.
"These videos are absolutely plain and clear what's going on here," Sutherland told CBS4. "They can say what whatever they want, as far as these are doctored videos."
Planned parenthood calls the video misleading and made by extremists who entered their facility based on an elaborate years-long fraudulent scheme.
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The following statement comes from Vicki Cowart, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains:
Another misleading and deceptively edited video of our medical services is being publicized by extremists who entered our facility based on misrepresentations and an elaborate, years-long fraudulent scheme.
I want to be clear again -- Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains insists on the highest standards, we have and will always follow all laws, and patients are always our highest priority. The accusations being made in connection to this heavily edited video are false.
PPRM determined we would not enter into a contract proposed by BioMax because they did not meet our legal and ethical standards, and our legal counsel provided line item edits to their proposed contract where we again clarified that we would strictly adhere to laws. Our staff asked probing questions about their process and didn't enter into an agreement when those questions weren't answered.
We want to acknowledge that hearing laboratory conversations about research out of context can be jarring, especially when the conversation is being manipulated for the purpose of attacking women's health care. Nevertheless, this coordinated attack on women's health will not deter us from providing essential reproductive health care and from advancing important medical research.
