3 Deceptive Edits in the Video Claiming Planned Parenthood Is ‘Selling Aborted Baby Parts’
More: 3 Deceptive Edits in the Video Claiming Planned Parenthood Is ‘Selling Aborted Baby Parts’
A deceptive video from a conservative group purports to show a Planned Parenthood official discussing prices for the illegal sale of fetal tissue from abortions. But the full, unedited footage and transcript released by the group undermines their sensationalist claims, showing at least three crucial edits that reveal the Planned Parenthood official was instead discussing the reimbursement cost for consensual, legal tissue donations.
Center For Medical Progress: Video Proves Planned Parenthood Is “Selling Aborted Baby Parts.” In a July 14 video, The Center for Medical Progress claimed to have recorded Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Senior Director of Medical Services Dr. Deborah Nucatola discussing how the organization “sells the body parts of aborted fetuses.” The nearly 9-minute video and an accompanying press release claimed that the organization was in violation of 42 U.S.C. 289g-2, a federal law regulating the use and sale of fetal tissue. According to the organization’s press release:
New undercover footage shows Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Senior Director of Medical Services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, describing how Planned Parenthood sells the body parts of aborted fetuses, and admitting she uses partial-birth abortions to supply intact body parts.
In the video, Nucatola is at a business lunch with actors posing as buyers from a human biologics company. As head of PPFA’s Medical Services department, Nucatola has overseen medical practice at all Planned Parenthood locations since 2009. She also trains new Planned Parenthood abortion doctors and performs abortions herself at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles up to 24 weeks.
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The sale or purchase of human fetal tissue is a federal felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 (42 U.S.C. 289g-2). [The Center For Medical Progress, 7/14/15]
At Least 3 Major Edits To The Video Undermine The Deceptive Attack
Unedited Transcript: “Nobody Should Be ‘Selling’ Tissue. That’s Just Not The Goal Here.”
The Center for Medical Progress also released a full transcript and longer version of the video with Dr. Nucatola — featuring more than 150 minutes of additional footage — which include crucial portions that were edited out. In one case, Nucatola says, “no affiliate should be doing anything that’s not like, reasonable and customary. This is not- nobody should be ‘selling’ tissue. That’s just not the goal here.” From the Center for Medical Progress’ transcript (emphasis added):Buyer [ACTOR]: Ok. I’m just trying to brainstorm. Because, I think offering some people, not only, just offsetting their cost in other areas, seeing the potential for that, besides the potential, for the patient, I’m still going down that road, even though I know, I understand what you’re saying. This cannot be seen as, “We’re doing this for profit.”
PP [NUCATOLA]: No. Nothing, no affiliate should be doing anything that’s not like, reasonable and customary. This is not—nobody should be “selling” tissue. That’s just not the goal here.
Buyer [ACTOR]: Right. And, I never see that as, I don’t look at it that way, we’re not selling tissue, we’re selling the possibility of what the research can offer. [The Center for Medical Progress, 7/14/15]
Video Jumps Nearly 8 Minutes In The Middle Of The Conversation About Money. In the short version of the video, a confusing exchange takes place misleadingly implying that at one point, Dr. Nucatola discussed the cost of the tissue, but timestamps on the footage reveal nearly eight minutes of conversation was removed:
ACTOR: Okay, so, when you are, or the affiliate is determining what that monetary —
NUCATOLA: Yes.
ACTOR: So that it doesn’t raise any question of this is what it’s about, this is the main — what — what price range would you —
NUCATOLA: You know, I’m — I could throw a number out that’s anywhere from $30 to $100 depending on the facility, and what’s involved.
[TIMESTAMPS JUMP FROM 12:24:07 TO 12:32:06, REMOVING NEARLY 8 MINUTES]
ACTOR: The $30 to $100 price range, that’s per specimen that we’re talking about, right?
NUCATOLA: Per specimen, yes. [The Center for Medical Progress, 7/14/15]