An undercover video released two weeks ago shows a Tucson Planned Parenthood employee covering up the rape of a 15-year-old girl.
UCLA student Lila Rose and friend Jackie Stollar, who posed as a 15-year old girl, entered the clinic as part three in a series of videos exposing the negligence of Planned Parenthood in protecting young women.
The footage, released Feb. 3, shows the nurse disregarding the age difference between the young girl and her 27-year-old boyfriend who had impregnated her.
Rather than acting in the girl’s best interest, the nurse counseled her to fill out paperwork to bring to a court hearing so that the girl could obtain an abortion without her parents’ knowledge.
Rather than acting in the girls’ best interest, the nurse advised her that she shouldn’t bring her boyfriend with her to the hearing, saying: “I wouldn’t take him with me, no. I mean, don’t take him.”
Rather than acting in the girl’s best interest, the nurse acted to preserve their illegal and likely abusive relationship from appropriate legal and parental intervention.
Rather than acting in the girl’s best interest, the nurse protected the child rapist.
In Arizona, sex between an adult and a 15-year-old is considered statutory rape. It is a felony. If an adult-child sex relationship is revealed, law enforcement must be contacted immediately.
Such negligence on the nurse’s part is punishable under Arizona law.
Planned Parenthood of Arizona promised an “internal review,” but as of Feb. 11, had not offered a public apology or acknowledged any wrongdoing.
The student-led non-profit Live Action, which produced the undercover video, has released the full, unedited video footage to the offices of the Arizona Attorney General and the Pima County Attorney.
The video follows two similar videos released in December revealing sexual abuse cover-ups at Planned Parenthood clinics in Indiana.
State officials in Indiana immediately initiated investigations into the practices of Planned Parenthood of Indiana. The not-for-profit, tax-funded organization fired the employee at one clinic and suspended an employee at another.
I hope Arizona follows suit.
Planned Parenthood must be held accountable to the law. Live Action promises several more videos of a similar nature as part of its nationwide Mona Lisa Project.
If these flagrant violations of the law and patterns of neglect continue, Planned Parenthood must provide answers to concerned taxpayers and to anyone who is concerned for the safety of young women.
I will not stoop to disparage an entire organization on the basis of the actions of a few of its members. Planned Parenthood does offer many worthwhile and needed services. But by refusing to even comment on the incident in Tucson, the organization sends a message of indifference toward the law and for the safety of its clients.
So, what say you, Planned Parenthood?
Andrea is waiting for an answer. Contact her at andrea.summers@asu.edu.
