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August 5, 2015
Dear Governor Bruce Rauner:
On July 13, 2015, July 21, 2015, July 28, 2015, July 30, 2015,
and August 3, 2015, the Center for Medical Progress released five
undercover investigation videos much like the style used by 60
Minutes. The investigative journalists posed as a biotech start-up
company that was interested in partnering with Planned Parenthood
to collect fetal baby parts following an abortion.1 The footage
captured revealed Planned Parenthood senior executives making
extremely legally troubling and morally offensive statements that
Planned Parenthood may be selling aborted fetal body parts
including lungs, hearts, livers, extremities, and heads. As noted
in point four of this letter, Illinois was specifically discussed
in the first video as a fabulous place to obtain harvested fetal
body parts. We are asking you to investigate Planned Parenthood and
eliminate all Illinois funds directed towards Planned
Parenthood.
There are five key points you need to be aware of.
1. The first investigative video released on July 13, 2015,
shows Dr. Deborah Nucatola, senior
medical services director for Planned Parenthood, making
statements that Planned Parenthood affiliates may make a profit on
the sale of harvested fetal body parts.
I think for affiliates, at the end of the day, theyre a
non-profit, they just dont want tothey want to break even. And if
they can do a little better than break even, and do so in a way
that seems reasonable, theyre happy to do that, said Dr. Nucatola,
senior medical services director for Planned Parenthood.2
Throughout the approximately two and a half hour unedited
footage, Dr. Deborah Nucatola repeatedly contradicts herself by
stating clinics wish to do better than break even off of the sale
of fetal body parts while also stating Planned Parenthood does not
wish to profit off of the sale.3 Dr. Nucatola discusses with the
potential buyers a price range of $30 - $100 per specimen:
You know, I would throw a number out, I would say its probably
anywhere from $30 to $100 [per specimen], depending on the facility
and whats involved.4
1https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjxwVuozMnU
2 Ibid.
3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4UjIM9B9KQ 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjxwVuozMnU
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In the video, Dr. Nucatola explains the process of harvesting
fetal organs during an abortion:
Weve been very good at getting heart, lung, liver, because we
know that, so Im not gonna crush that part, Im gonna basically
crush below, Im gonna crush above, and Im gonna see if I can get it
all intact.5
Other videos show Planned Parenthood staff picking through an
aborted fetus identifying the arms, legs, eyes, head, heart, spinal
structure, kidneys, and sexual organs that could be used in
research. One staff member states after examining the dead fetus,
And another boy! and another called the body parts, five stars for
body part harvesting.6 7
2. A Stem Express brochure used to advertise contracts with
Planned Parenthood clinics to harvest fetal body parts states four
times that working with Stem Express is financially profitable for
the clinic. Planned Parenthood endorses this brochure. The Center
for Medical Progress released a brochure from Stem Express, a
biotech corporation that contracts with Planned Parenthood
affiliates to harvest aborted fetal body parts. On this
advertisement is an endorsement from Dr. Dorothy Fergerson, of
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. Four times in this four-page
brochure, Stem Express states it: fiscally rewards clinics is
contributing to the fiscal growth of your clinic, is financially
profitable, and is providing a financial benefit to clinics.8 3. A
second undercover video released by the Center for Medical Progress
shows a Planned Parenthood executive haggling over the potential
price her clinic would be paid for harvesting baby parts. I want a
Lamborghini, she added. On July 21, 2015, the Center for Medical
Progress journalists released a second undercover
video of a meeting with Dr. Mary Gatter, president of Planned
Parenthood Federation of
Americas Medical Directors Council and Medical Director for
Planned Parenthood Pasadena
and San Gabriel Valley. In the video, Dr. Mary Gatter can be
seen negotiating the price the buyer
will pay for the fetal body parts:
Well why dont you start by telling me what youre used to paying
[for fetal body parts]. Well, you know in negotiations the person
who throws out the figure first is at a loss, right? I dont want to
play games, I just dont want to lowball, because Im used to low
things Okay. $75 a specimen. ... Its been years since I talked
about compensation, so let me just figure out what others are
getting, if this is in the ballpark, its fine, if its still low
then we can bump it up. I want a Lamborghini.9
4. According to the Illinois Comptrollers Office, Planned
Parenthood received $42 million in taxpayer money from the state of
Illinois between 2011 and 2015.10
5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjxwVuozMnU
6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWQuZMvcFA8
7https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=593&v=Xw2xi9mhmuo
8
http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/StemExpress-flyer.pdf
9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjCs_gvImyw
10 Source: Illinois Comptrollers Office
www.IllinoisRightToLife.org/PlannedParenthood
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Illinois Planned Parenthood received the following amounts from
Illinois taxpayers: 2015 - $7,926,550.41 2014 - $7,707,281.96 2013
- $7,921,314.62 2012 - $8,317,134.25 2011 - $10,464,461.03
Planned Parenthood currently receives $1.45 million in federal
taxpayer money per day.11 According to the Department of Public
Health, no Planned Parenthood in Illinois is licensed by the state.
No Planned Parenthood has received a health and safety inspection
since 1999.12 Dr. Deborah Nucatola told fetal organ buyers that
Chicago was a fabulous place to obtain fetal body parts.
"There [Chicago] you have probably the best opportunity outside
of UCSF to get those larger cases. But Cook County is fabulous,
it's in the center of Chicago, two airports, plenty of
opportunities there. ...The largest family planning provider in the
Mid-West. Cook County hospital, Stroger Hospital.13"
5. A former employee of Stem Express hired to harvest fetal body
parts says Planned Parenthood received a profit from selling
aborted fetal body parts. On July 28, 2015, the third video
released by the Center for Medical Progress included the personal
testimony from a whistleblower, Holly ODonnell, who use to work at
Stem Express as a Procurement Technician: For whatever we could
procure, they would get a certain percentage. The main nurse was
always trying to make sure we got our specimens. No one else really
cared, but the main nurse did because she knew that Planned
Parenthood was getting compensated.14 They [Stem Express] partner
with Planned Parenthood and they get part of the money. Cause we
pay them to use their facilities and they get paid from it. They do
get some kind of benefit. Were asked to procure pretty much
anything on the fetus.15 The receiving or giving of human organs
for profit is a federal felony (42 U.S. Code 274e) and
violation of Illinois law (The Anatomical Gift Act 755 ILCS
50/5-50).
As this letter shows, there is reasonable concern that Planned
Parenthood may be operating in
gross violation of federal and state law. We respectfully ask
you to immediately investigate
Planned Parenthood, as Governors and Attorneys General in
Massachusetts, Florida, Missouri,
Arizona, Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana, Texas, Kansas, Tennessee, and
Georgia have, to stop any
commerce of baby body parts that may be occurring. We also
respectfully call upon you to
11
Planned Parenthood annual report:
http://issuu.com/actionfund/docs/annual_report_final_proof_12.16.14_/0
[page 23] 12
Illinois Department of Public Health:
http://illinoisrighttolife.org/womens-health-comes-first-a-project-of-illinois-right-to-life/find-your-clinic/
13
http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PPFAtranscript072514_final.pdf
14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw2xi9mhmuo 15
Ibid.
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investigate Stroger Hospital and Family Planning Associates all
mentioned in the first
undercover video as fabulous places to harvest fetal body
parts.
Regardless of the law, these videos show extremely troubling and
disturbing behavior by
Planned Parenthood executives that is morally reprehensible. The
body parts of aborted
children should not be harvested and sold.
The aborting of unborn fetuses and the selling of their body
parts lungs, livers, extremities, hearts, and heads - is morally
reprehensible and does not deserve the hard-earned money of
Illinoisans. In your continuing budget negotiations, any taxpayer
money set aside for Planned Parenthood should be eliminated. Thank
you for your careful attention to this matter. All videos,
transcripts, and other information detailed and footnoted in this
letter can be viewed at
www.IllinoisRightToLife.org/PlannedParenthood. Additional questions
can be directed to Emily Zender at 312-422-9300 or
[email protected]. Sincerely, Emily Zender Executive
Director David Smith
David E. Smith
Executive Director
Illinois Family Institute
P.O. Box 88848
Carol Stream, IL 60188
708-781-9328
Father Andrew Bartek, Rector
St. Panteleimon Orthodox Church
7545 W. 61st Place
Summit, IL 60501
Dawn Fitzpatrick
Director, Respect Life Office
Archdiocese of Chicago
3525 S. Lake Park Avenue
Chicago, IL 60653
312-534-5355
[email protected]
Dr. Anthony Caruso
A Bella Baby, OBGYN
4333 Main Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515
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Tiffany Staman
Executive Director
The Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford
4921 East State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
815-680-5101
[email protected]
Susan Skoglund
Executive Director
Pregnancy Resources
829 15th Street
Moline, IL 61265
309-797-3636
[email protected]
Susan Barrett
Executive Director
Aid for Women
8 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 812
Chicago, IL 60603
312-621-1101
[email protected]
Kelly Brennan Gorsky
Executive Director, Co-Founder
Waterleaf
3598 E. New York Street
Aurora, IL 60504
630-701-6270
[email protected]
Mary A. Strom
Executive Director
The Womens Center
5116 N. Cicero Avenue
Chicago, IL 60630
773-794-1313
[email protected]
Lisa Van Dyke
Director of Client Services
Womans Choice Services
929 S. Main Street, Unit 103
Lombard, IL 60148
630-261-9564
[email protected]
Tricia Blasdel
Executive Director
Relevant Pregnancy Resource Center
410 A Pine Street
Highland, IL 62249
618-654-3732
[email protected]
Sherrie Bicksler
Executive Director
Freeport Pregnancy Center
222 West Exchange Street
Freeport, IL 61032
815-232-5433
[email protected]
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Sarah VanDerLip
Executive Director
Informed Choices
888 East Belvidere Road, #124
Grayslake, IL 60030
847-231-4651
[email protected]
Kevin Grillot
Executive Director
Students for Life of Illinois
P.O. Box 2001
Champaign, IL 61825
217-255-6675
[email protected]
Ralph Rivera
Executive Director
Illinois Citizens for Life
5021 Fairfield Avenue
Downers Grove, IL 60515
630-852-5448
[email protected]
Kathy Bozak
Executive Director
Southside Pregnancy Center
9115 S. Cicero Avenue
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
708-346-9070
[email protected]
Dawn Behnke
President
Illinois Federation for Right to Life
1300 S. 8th Street
Springfield, IL 62703
217-544-9700
[email protected]
Bonnie Quirke
President
Lake County Right to Life
100 Atkinson Road, #112 C
Grayslake, IL 60030
847-223-7022
[email protected]
Lawrence Theriault, VP Director of Operations McGivney Center of
Hope & Healing P.O. Box 82 Glenview, IL 60025 847-729-3646
[email protected]
Kathy Lesnoff (Sparks)
President, CEO
Mosaic Pregnancy & Health Centers
2019 Johnson Road
Granite City, IL 62040
618-451-2002
[email protected]
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Debbie Geist
Executive Director
Life Network of Southern Illinois
722 N. Market Street
Waterloo, IL 62298
618-939-4224
Dgeist.htc.net
Kevin Rilott
Director
Rockford Pro-Life Initiative
4688 Quarry Ridge Trail
Rockford, IL 61101
815-494-0333
[email protected]
Manual Z. Hermano
Region Coordinator
Couples for Christ, FFL- Illinois
Dr. Michael M. Wall, MD
Medical Director of New Life Pregnancy Center
Decatur, IL
Family Medicine
241 W. Weaver Suite 145-C
Forsyth, IL 62535
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