Live Action strikes again. A New York PP counselor is told that the client wants to abort a girl. The PP representative is cooperative, non judgmental, and professionally aloof. I embedded this example above, because unlike the last video released, it contains the raw footage of the entire encounter without editing or LA polemics. The interview with the social worker begins at 36 minutes into the recording. Here’s a partial transcript:
PP: Have you decided you want to terminate your pregnancy?
Client: We decided we had a daughter, and we want to have a son. I found out I was pregnant. [Tells of fictional test that gives early indication of gender.] It looks like it is going to be another girl. It’s not what we’re looking for right now...
PP: (Rep explains she has not heard of the “test” and informs client that she’s a social worker and not a medical provider. Also tells “client” that that PP does abortions up to 24 weeks. Then explains CVS test, invasive like amnio, available to determine gender at 11-13 weeks. And that sonogram can tell between 18-20 weeks. Tests usually done for older women because of potential pre natal risks of genetic abnormality.)
Client: We want to make sure we get our boy in before there are risks...I could get the CVS test done now...I could do that before even scheduling the abortion, just in case it’s a boy—because that would be awful, that would be really hard, I can’t imagine.
PP: Yea, absolutely! You would want to obviously...make an appointment with someone as soon as possible. (Offers to refer to an Ob/GYN for the test. Discuss network of doctors PP refers to as depending on insurance.)
Snip:
Client: If there is somebody that you guys could recommend that I could go to just to get the test so that we know, because then if we find out that it’s a girl we can terminate earlier rather than having it wait.
PP: Yea!
Snip:
Client: Will they [the Ob/GYN PP will refer her to] judge me at all if they find out that I’m going to come back here to terminate it because it’s a girl?
PP: It’s really your decision. I can’t tell you whether someone will judge you or not. I can’t speak for anybody else...It is your decision. You don’t need an Ob/Gyn’s permission t0 decide what you and your husband think is best for your family. And so if you decide that even if you find out that it’s a girl and you decide that what you would prefer is to terminate the pregnancy, then that’s just your decision and nobody else’s...
Client: (Asks if she comes back for repeated sex selection abortions whether she will be judged by PP personnel, who might wonder “Why are you aborting all the girls?”)
PP: That I can’t answer for you...I can tell you that here at Planned Parenthood, we believe that it is not up to us to decide what is a good or bad reason for someone to decide to terminate a pregnancy, that is up to the individual person to decide what you feel like is best for your family. (Asks later, because “we are required to discuss all options,” whether “adoption is something you would be interested in.”)
But wait! PP has stated publicly that they oppose sex selection abortion! From the PP statement:
Gender bias is contrary to everything our organization works for daily in communities across the country. Planned Parenthood opposes racism and sexism in all forms, and we work to advance equity and human rights in the delivery of health care. Planned Parenthood condemns sex selection motivated by gender bias, and urges leaders to challenge the underlying conditions that lead to these beliefs and practices, including addressing the social, legal, economic, and political conditions that promote gender bias and lead some to value one gender over the other.”
Oh, right. But they also believe it is okay because they can’t judge. From the statement:
We support efforts that ensure girls and women have access to economic opportunity, including fair wages, basic health care, political participation, education, and a life free of violence and discrimination. Planned Parenthood works to ensure women and their families have access to high-quality nonjudgmental health services free of coercion, supported by information and counseling.
Which is why the representative calendered the client for a sex selection abortion at the time of this appointment (giving her card with direct phone number to cancel in case the fetus proves to be a boy). Which raises a question: Will she also be fired like the other representative who was recorded cooperating with a sex selection abortion merely for obeying Planned Parenthood policy?
An unsolicited word of advise to the actress: Don’t push it so hard.
In related news: The House of Representatives supported a bill banning sex slection abortion by 246-168, which successfully blocked the bill because it needed a 2/3 vote to proceed.
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