Department of State Health Services issues cease and desist orders
AUSTIN--Legislators announced today that Planned Parenthood has been performing abortions illegally in unlicensed facilities in Texas.
A March 16 letter to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) prompted an investigation that found four unlicensed Planned Parenthood facilities in San Antonio have been illegally performing abortions.
DSHS issued cease and desist orders to each of these facilities on April 2 2009. Read more in a letter from Dr. David Lakey M.D. DSHS Commissioner to Rep. Phil King and 10 other members of the of the Legislature.
Were shocked but not surprised to find that Planned Parenthood has violated the public trust in this manner and is endangering the lives and safety of women says Joe Pojman Ph.D. executive director of Texas Alliance for Life. We commend these legislators for their vigilance in ensuring that state funds are prevented from being misused and that womens health and safety are not violated.
Planned Parenthood which operates the largest chain of abortion facilities in Texas receives more than $10 million a year from Texas taxpayers through the states family planning program. While they do not legally use tax dollars to pay for abortion (federal and state law prevents it) Planned Parenthood aggressively promotes abortion as a method of birth control.
In addition to the unlicensed abortion facilities the DSHS investigation found that five additional Planned Parenthood facilities have violated Texas law. Lakeys letter also states that the DSHS staff is conducting an investigation at a licensed Planned Parenthood facility in San Antonio that may result in enforcement action.
To arrange an interview with Pojman contact Valerie Striker.
