ColumbiaSC PP
By Cheryl Sullenger
Columbia, South Carolina – When the Center for Medical Progress began releasing undercover videos that showed Planned Parenthood was illegally profiting from the sale of aborted baby remains, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley requested an investigation into her states three remaining abortion facilities.
What was found during unannounced inspections was so shocking that Health Regulators on Friday suspended the facility licenses of two, and ordered a third to make corrections.
The worst offender? Planned Parenthood.
Inspectors discovered 21 violations at the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Columbia and fined it $7,500. Some staff lacked required training in CPR, infection control, and fire safety and other important areas.
Planned Parenthood was also found in violation of the Women’s Right to Know Act conducting abortions within less than an hour after an ultrasound had been performed. It also failed to note the name of the father on abortion charts related to minor girls, as required, as omission that would hamper law enforcement should they require the information for a criminal investigation into child sex abuse.
But in light of the CMP video revelations that aborted babies at some Planned Parenthood facilities were being sold to biologics companies, the inspectors were particularly interested in what happened to the aborted baby remains, which the law requires be incinerated or buried.
While no body parts were sold out of the Columbia Planned Parenthood, they did find something else that was disturbing and illegal: The abortion remains were being steam treated and dumped in landfills.
This was also the practice at the Greenville Woman’s Clinic. In all, the Greenville Women’s Clinic was cited for six deficiencies, including violations of the Women’s Right to Know Act. It was fined $2,750 in addition to the license suspension.
The facilities have until September 28 to come into compliance or face closure. The findings are also being referred to law enforcement for possible criminal charges.
“This is completely unacceptable,” Gov. Haley said in a written statement. “I fully support DHEC’s actions, including its referral of the matter to SLED. South Carolina is a compassionate state, and we are a state of laws. We will not tolerate law breaking of any kind, particularly as it relates to the callous treatment of human life.”
Of course, Planned Parenthood objected and complained that they passed their last inspection with no deficiencies. However, most inspections are usually announced, and inspectors may not necessarily check every aspect of a licensee’s business during each inspection.
“This just goes to show the benefit of unannounced inspections,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “If clinics know inspectors are coming, they can clean up their act for the day, but when inspectors are gone, its back to cutting corners on women’s health and playing fast and loose with the law. It obviously is in the best interests of women to shut down abortion facilities that are violating the law and endangering their lives, and that can’t come soon enough.”
Over a dozen other states have also launched investigations into Planned Parenthood’s practices. Three Congressional subcommittees are also investigating the abortion giant. The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony last week and the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a hearing on Planned Parenthood’s alleged illegal conduct on Thursday, September 17 at 3:00 pm (EDT).
View Deficiency Report for Planned Parenthood, Columbia, SC
View Deficiency Report for Greenville Women’s Clinic, Greenville, SC