Planned Parenthood: Gov. Rick Scott Changed Abortion Rules

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is changing the rules related to abortions to create a “false impression” that Planned Parenthood is not operating in line with state standards.

That’s the position of Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates. In a statement issued Wednesday, Goodhue challenged state findings that three of its clinics have been operating outside the boundaries of their licenses by performing second trimester abortions.

“I can state unequivocally that all of our health centers are operating in full compliance with Florida law as well as best practices in reproductive health care,” Goodhue said. “The claim that any of our health centers are performing procedures we are not licensed to perform is false and seemingly stems from AHCA flip-flopping on their own rules and definitions of gestational periods.”

Goodhue said the clinics consider the first term up to 13 weeks and six days from a woman’s last menstrual cycle.

“This, as defined by rules, is still the first trimester,” she said in the statement.

The state doesn’t see it that way.

The state’s Agency for Health Care Administration inspected 16 Planned Parenthood clinics across the state last week following a request from Scott. Inspectors found three clinics – including the one in St. Petersburg – were operating beyond their licensing authority by performing second trimester abortions. A clinic in Pembroke Pines was also called out for not following proper protocol for labeling and dating of fetal remains for disposal.

No clinics in the state were found to be selling fetal tissue.

“We will take immediate actions against these three facilities for performing second trimester abortions without a proper license,” AHCA announced in a media release about the inspections Wednesday. “These facilities have been notified to immediately cease performing second trimester abortions. The Agency may take additional actions against these facilities including administrative sanctions.”

The release went on to say that “licenses are in place to protect the patient from unscrupulous operators and the State of Florida will ensure every facility is held accountable for its actions.”

The St. Petersburg Clinic, 8950 Martin Luther King St., is accused of performing 25 second trimester abortions between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015, according to the state’s inspection reports. Other clinics found to be conducting second trimester abortions are located in Fort Myers and Naples.

AHCA officials did not immediately respond to a request from Patch to clarify the number of weeks into a pregnancy it considers the first trimester.

Scott ordered last week’s inspections amid a backdrop of national controversy surrounding allegations that some Planned Parenthood clinics are illegally selling fetal body parts. An anti-abortion group has released a series of videos that allegedly show improper handling of tissue and aborted fetuses.

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