COLUMBUS- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says his office’s investigation of Planned Parenthood has determined that, while there was no evidence that clinics in Columbus and two other locations sold any fetal tissue, it did find that aborted fetuses had been improperly disposed of in landfills, a violation of state regulations.
An investigation, begun earlier this year by the Charitable Law Section of DeWine’s office, into whether Planned Parenthood clinics in Columbus, Cincinnati and Bedford Heights were violating Ohio law by selling fetal tissue, a practice called “abortion trafficking,” DeWine said.
While the probe “did not find any indication that fetal tissue was sold by Planned Parenthood affiliates in Ohio, the investigation did reveal that that aborted fetuses from Planned Parenthood facilities are ultimately disposed of in landfill sites,” stated a release from DeWine’s office Friday.
“Disposing of aborted fetuses from an abortion by sending them to a landfill is callous and completely inhumane,” DeWine said.
Stephanie Kight, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, insists that the agency follows Ohio law and handles medical tissue disposal in line with other health care providers.
The investigation was launched in July a viral video posted by an anti-abortion group depicted a Planned Parenthood official in Los Angeles discussing fetal body parts and tissues with people posing as representatives of a biologics company.
At least one supporter of the womens’ health organization in the Statehouse criticized the investigation as politically motivated by DeWine and other abortion foes.
“This harassment of Planned Parenthood and its patients is inexcusable. The attempt to paint the women’s healthcare provider as a lawbreaker is sad and deeply troubling,” said Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent).
After examining documents and financial records from Planned Parenthood organizations and its contractors, investigators did not find that the Ohio clinics sold any fetal tissue but did rule that disposal methods violate a 1975 section of the Ohio Administrative Code which requires that a “fetus shall be disposed of in a humane manner.”
DeWine’s office says the three Ohio affiliates sent fetal remains to companies which disposed of the fetuses in landfills.
The company the Bedford Heights affiliate said it contracted with told investigators it does not accept fetal remains for disposal as a corporate policy, according to the release.
Kight says the agency’s agreements with waste disposal vendors require them to dispose of tissue appropriately.
DeWine says he forwarded the findings to the state Department of Health which would initiate any further action.
Calls to Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio were not immediately returned.