Planned Parenthood and the allegations it sold fetal tissue to researchers continue to spark debate, not only among voters, but also state lawmakers and leaders all over the country as well.
During a nationally broadcast interview, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick discussed the issue - specifically, his state’s decision to cut off millions of dollars of Medicaid funding to the group.
He said the organization is, “nothing more than a referral service. They don’t do anything except profit from killing babies and then selling body parts of those aborted babies.”
PolitiFact Florida heard the claim and put it to their Truth-O-Meter. It rated PANTS ON FIRE.
Writer Joshua Gillin said only 3 percent of Planned Parenthood clients make use of the abortion services.
“The rest of it, though, to say that they don’t do anything else … that’s just not accurate,” Gillin said. “There’s pregnancy referral services. There’s breast exams that they then refer to places where people can get mammograms.”
They also provide testing for sexually transmitted infections and birth control services.
For this reason, Patrick’s statement rated PANTS ON FIRE.
SOURCES: Texas Lt. Governor says Planned Parenthood only offers abortion services
- Telephone interview, Alejandro Garcia, press secretary, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Oct. 20, 2015
- Truth-O-Meter articles, "Jon Kyl says abortion services are 'well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does,'" PolitiFact, April 8, 2011; "Karen Handel seeks to set the record straight on Komen, Planned Parenthood in new book," PolitiFact Georgia, Sept. 25, 2012; "Jeb Bush: Planned Parenthood isn't involved in women's health," PolitiFact, Aug. 26, 2015; "Chart shown at Planned Parenthood hearing is misleading and 'ethically wrong,'" PolitiFact, Oct. 1, 2015; "Planned Parenthood has been found to 'illegally sell baby parts,' activist says," PolitiFact Florida, Oct. 7, 2015
- Documents, "By the Numbers," Planned Parenthood Federation of America; "Services," last updated in July 2015 (accessed Oct. 20, 2015)
- Planned Parenthood, 2013-2014 Annual Report
- Planned Parenthood, 2012-2013 Annual Report
- Planned Parenthood, 2011-2012 Annual Report
- Planned Parenthood, 2010-2011 Annual Report
- Planned Parenthood, 2009-2010 Annual Report
- Planned Parenthood, 2007-2008 Annual Report
- Planned Parenthood, 2006-2007 Annual Report
- Emails, Yvonne Gutierrez, executive director, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, Oct. 20-21, 2015
- Document, "This is where we are. Working for a Healthy America in Communities Across the Nation," Planned Parenthood Federation of America, July 23, 2015 (received by email from Yvonne Gutierrez, Oct. 20, 2015)
- Document, "Texas Health and Human Services Programs - Payments to Planned Parenthood: FY 2005 - FY 2015," Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Oct. 19, 2015 (received by email from Gutierrez, Oct. 20, 2015)
- Telephone interview, Bryan Black, chief press officer, Texas HHSC, Oct. 21, 2015