PRESS RELEASE July 17, 2015 Re: Planned Parenthood Trafficking in Fetal Tissue As pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, we believe that all human beings have value and dignity and a right to life from the moment of conception through natural death. Because of this, we are opposed to abortion of any kind and at any gestational age. This week, a video was released reportedly showing a national Planned Parenthood executive, an OB/GYN physician, callously describing the sale of fetal organs and tissues that are obtained from induced abortions in the second trimester. She even discusses the prices charged for these organs. She also describes how abortionists modify their methods of performing the abortion in order to keep some organs intact. As an organization, AAPLOG sees several things about this situation that are both dangerous and deplorable. 1. The procedure described to obtain intact fetal organs in these abortion facilities is consistent with either 1) “D&X”(dilation and extraction) which is commonly known as partial birth abortion, illegal in the United States since 2003, or 2) “D&E”(dilation and evacuation). In a D&E procedure, the living fetus is crushed and dismembered inside its mother’s womb and removed piece by piece. In a D&X procedure(dilation and extraction), more commonly known as partial birth abortion, the living fetus is delivered in breech presentation intact to the level of the head, and the base of the skull is then opened and the intracranial contents suctioned out prior to delivery of the head. Besides being inhumane procedures for the unborn human being, they pose significant risks to the mother . The forced dilation of her cervix leads to a significant increase in her risk for preterm delivery in the future. 2. Title 42 Chapter 6A of the U.S. Code, which includes laws governing the use of fetal tissue, clearly states “no alteration of the timing, method, or procedures used to terminate the pregnancy [may be] made solely for the purposes of obtaining the tissue.” The changes to the method of abortion, in order to preserve certain organs intact, as described on this video very clearly violates this federal law. 3. From the video it appears that Planned Parenthood is profiting from the slaughter of innocent human beings through the sale of fetal organs. We believe this is a dangerous and immoral path that our society cannot tolerate. Throughout history we have seen what happens when we disregard the dignity of human lives in favor of profit. Profiting from the sale of human tissue also violates federal law. It appears from the video that Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider may be violating federal laws pertaining to fetal tissue trafficking. Disregard for federal laws by the medical director of the nation’s largest abortion provider is unconscionable, especially when Planned Parenthood is currently being supported by millions of tax payer dollars. But even more unconscionable is the violent destruction of fetal human beings, particularly at gestational ages where they are capable of feeling pain, and where the fetus could live outside of the mother if given the proper medical support. We fully support a congressional investigation into this matter and call for removal of taxpayer funds from Planned Parenthood. http://aaplog.wildapricot.org/