State Legislatures Take On Fetal-Tissue Research After Release Of Controversial And Covert Planned Parenthood Videos
The Wall Street Journal reports that Republican lawmakers in Arizona, California, Ohio, New Jersey and Wisconsin have introduced bills or taken action to restrict or oversee the uses of fetal tissue. Such measures trigger debate between antiabortion advocates who say the practice of using this tissue in research is immoral and scientists who say it is vital for medical advancement. Meanwhile, in Florida, Planned Parenthood has indicated it will resume performing abortions since it has received guidance from the state government. In the background, a latest video has been released and a poll shows broad support for funding womens' health and contraception services.
The Wall Street journal:
State Lawmakers Target Fetal-Tissue Research
The release of videos about Planned Parenthood is spurring state legislative efforts to ban or restrict use of fetal tissue for medical studies and treatments. Republicans in Arizona, California, Ohio, New Jersey and Wisconsin have introduced bills or taken action to restrict or oversee fetal tissue—pitting antiabortion advocates who say the practice of using it in research is immoral against scientists who say it is vital for breakthroughs that save lives. (Armour, 8/19)
The Hill:
Planned Parenthood To Resume Some Abortions Amid Florida Dispute
Planned Parenthood says it will resume performing abortions in the last two weeks of a woman’s first trimester of pregnancy after receiving new guidance from the Florida government. Florida Planned Parenthood clinics had filed for an injunction and stopped performing abortions for such pregnancies after the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) found violations at three clinics earlier this month. (Sullivan, 8/29)
Politico:
New Planned Parenthood Video Released
The seventh in the string of videos from the Center for Medical Progress released Wednesday again features a tissue procurement technician, this time explaining how she obtained a brain from an aborted fetus. (Haberkorn, 8/19)
Reuters:
Americans Back Federal Funds For Planned Parenthood Health Services
Americans broadly support providing federal funding for free women's health exams, screenings and contraception services, a Reuters/Ipsos poll has found, suggesting risks for Republicans criticizing Planned Parenthood as part of the 2016 campaigns. Support for federal funding of Planned Parenthood itself to provide those services was even stronger, according to the Reuters/Ipsos released on Wednesday. The non-profit's image has taken a hit, the poll found, after an anti-abortion group earlier this year began releasing videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood officials negotiating prices for aborted fetal tissue. (Stephenson, 8/19)
In other news -
The Associated Press:
El Paso Abortion Clinic Will Be First To Reopen In Texas
An El Paso clinic shuttered by Texas’ tough abortion laws is set to become the first to reopen since the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked enforcement of key restrictions nearly two months ago. The reopening of the Reproductive Services facility would mean the country’s second most-populous state has 20 abortion clinics — down from 41 in 2012. (Weissert, 8/19)