In the wake of a Fifth Circuit panel’s unanimous decision upholding Texas’ new ultrasound law, abortion advocacy groups are up-in-arms. Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, released a statement declaring the Texas law is “demeaning.”
But what is “demeaning” about the law? It actually respects women by supporting their right to full and accurate information prior to an abortion. As Judge Edith Jones, author of the unanimous panel opinion, noted, disclosing an ultrasound and fetal development descriptions are “the epitome of truthful, non-misleading information.”
Still, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards announced that her abortion chain was “outraged by this law and the subsequent court ruling.”
Planned Parenthood’s “outrage” is not new. Its outspoken opposition to informed consent is not limited to the Texas ultrasound law. As Americans United for Life detailed in The Case for Investigating Planned Parenthood, released in July 2011, Planned Parenthood has a long history of working to oppose and overturn common-sense informed consent laws.
In addition, as Live Action has uncovered (which is documented in the AUL Report), some Planned Parenthood clinics appear willing to go so far as to provide inaccurate and misleading information regarding fetal development and the risks of abortion to women’s health. [related]
Planned Parenthood’s opposition to informed consent for women demonstrates that it is not deserving of ifs self-proclaimed “trusted health care provider” status. And its conflict of interest–as the nation’s largest abortion provider it performs one out of every four abortions— in judging laws that might reduce abortion (and Planned Parenthood’s profits) is obvious.
Fortunately for the women of Texas, the Fifth Circuit ruled on the merits of the law and not Planned Parenthood’s bottom-line.
