In Our View: Record Set Straight

If the issue truly was never about abortion, then we would expect lawmakers to spread the word regarding Planned Parenthood: The organization’s clinics in Washington do not sell fetal tissue and do not perform partial-birth abortions.

Those were the findings of a four-month investigation by the state attorney general’s office — findings that were unveiled last week in a 48-page report. “We found no indication that procedures performed by Planned Parenthood are anything other than performance of a legally authorized medical procedure,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson wrote.

The investigation followed a request from state lawmakers — including local Republican representatives Lynda Wilson, Liz Pike, Brandon Vick and Paul Harris — that the attorney general’s office look into the actions of the organization. In a letter sent in July, lawmakers wrote: “Regardless of personal views of legalized abortion, a civilized society cannot tolerate unethical medical practices such as the harvesting of human organs for monetary gain.”

We agree, and we are thankful those practices are not occurring. Investigations in Missouri, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, South Dakota and elsewhere also have uncovered no wrongdoing on the part of Planned Parenthood clinics. Congressional hearings — including five hours of questioning for the organization’s national president, Cecile Richards — likewise came up empty. None of that has prevented the House of Representatives from setting up a select panel to further investigate Planned Parenthood, and many Republicans in Congress are hoping to eliminate federal funding for the organization.

Planned Parenthood has been under scrutiny since an anti-abortion group started releasing undercover videos taken at clinics. State lawmakers, in their letter to the attorney general, wrote: “Recent reports have surfaced alleging improper, unethical, and illegal actions relating to the trafficking of human organs and body parts by some Planned Parenthood of America affiliates.”

Such allegations are, indeed, disturbing and worthy of investigation. But allegations should be handed out sparingly, as they themselves can be damaging, and the recent accusations have hampered progress on research into birth disorders, genetic heart defects, diabetes, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Washington is one of two states (along with California) in which women, once they have decided to have an abortion, are asked whether the fetal tissue may be used in research, and one Planned Parenthood clinic has an agreement to supply tissue to the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Birth Defects Research Laboratory.

All of that, however, places too much emphasis on Planned Parenthood’s role as an abortion provider, which plays into the hands of its critics. In truth, by providing birth control, counseling and other services, Planned Parenthood clinics also help prevent a great number of unwanted pregnancies. While Washington lawmakers say the request for an investigation was not about abortion, others are not so sure. Gov. Jay Inslee said: “The effort by some state legislators to baselessly discredit Planned Parenthood was part of a national effort to restrict access to legal medical services for millions of women.”

Now it is up to legislators to prove otherwise. When constituents or advocates or other lawmakers repeat unfounded claims about abhorrent medical practices at Planned Parenthood, we trust that the record will be set straight. The truth is out there; it should be heard.