Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
HHS Tells Congress That Federal Researchers Have Not Violated Fetal Tissue Laws
The Obama administration says there are no known violations of the country’s fetal tissue laws among government researchers or the companies that supply the tissue. “Currently, we know of no violation of these laws in connection with the research done at our agencies,” Jim Esquea, assistant secretary for legislation at HHS, wrote in a letter to Sens. Joni Ernst and Roy Blunt, obtained by POLITICO. ... Very little federal research is done with fetal tissue, but it has come under scrutiny since an anti-abortion group earlier this summer began releasing undercover videos alleging that Planned Parenthood was trafficking in fetal tissue and organs. Planned Parenthood has denied that, saying it facilitates legal tissue donation at a few of its locations. (Haberkorn, 8/16)
A company that helped with Planned Parenthood's fetal tissue donation program is ending its relationship with the health provider. Stem Express, a small company based in northern California, has come under intense scrutiny in the last few weeks after it was caught up in an anti-abortion group’s campaign against Planned Parenthood. ... Anti-abortion activists with the Center for Medical Progress have used secretly recorded footage of Stem Express employees, as well as video from former employees, to raise questions about the legality of Planned Parenthood’s fetal tissue program. (Ferris, 8/14)
StemExpress, one of the tissue companies that works with Planned Parenthood, is cutting its ties with the women’s health organization after a series of sting videos that have prompted congressional inquiries. (Haberkorn, 8/14)
Ben Carson alleged in an interview with Fox News Wednesday that Planned Parenthood puts most of its clinics in black neighborhoods to "control the population" and that its founder, Margaret Sanger, "was not particularly enamored with black people." ... It's not the first time Planned Parenthood has faced criticism about its founder and the placement of its clinics — former presidential candidate Herman Cain made a similar statement in 2011. ... Did Margaret Sanger believe in eugenics? Yes, but not in the way Carson implied. (Kelly, 8/14)
