Planned Parenthood announced yesterday that it has filed a federal lawsuit to protect abortion access in Ohio. The suit comes two days after state Attorney General Mike DeWine threatened to take legal action against the health care provider and introduce legislation to further restrict abortion care in the state.
DeWine claimed in a press conference on Friday that Planned Parenthood clinics in the state had improperly handled fetal tissue – a claim that the organization calls “bogus.” Planned Parenthood has said that it did not receive any formal communication from the Ohio Department of Health concerning DeWine’s allegations, has never received a citation on the matter, and follows all applicable Ohio laws and regulations.
This new accusation against Planned Parenthood was announced after DeWine admitted on Friday, after a state investigation, that the claim that Planned Parenthood had “sold fetal tissue” was completely false.
“It’s clear from the Attorney General’s press conference that we’ve acted properly and legally, and this is just part of his longstanding political agenda to ban abortion in all cases,” said CEO of Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Jerry Lawson. “We won’t let that happen.”
Planned Parenthood has asserted in its lawsuit that Ohio has violated its due process and equal protection rights. It is seeking an order to block the state from taking action unfairly targeting Planned Parenthood.
Since the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress (CMP) released several surreptitiously recorded and highly-edited videos falsely accusing Planned Parenthood of “selling” fetal tissue, Planned Parenthood has been under a barrage of state- and federal attacks. The videos have been debunked repeatedly, and to date, zero investigations have found evidence of wrongdoing.
Media Resources: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio Press Release 12/13/15; Associated Press 12/13/15; Feminist Newswire 9/1/15;
