South Carolina has a long history of egregious abortion-related incidents, including the termination of a fetus that survived for 21 days and the documentation of an abortionist grinding up the bodies of infants in a common sink disposal.
A recent investigation by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) found that Planned Parenthood in Columbia, S.C. illegally dumped aborted babies in landfills.
The law says that babies’ bodies must be cremated or donated for research. DHEC said that Planned Parenthood shipped 23 aborted babies for “steam sterilization.” That’s cooking the bodies of aborted babies, which is illegal in South Carolina.
Planned Parenthood was discovered to have been illegally disposing of the “products of conception,” the technical term for aborted fetuses. The abortion provider is now attempting to avoid paying the associated fine while claiming that the government is conducting a politically motivated “witch hunt.” It is noteworthy that the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) uncovered the disturbing “health care” practices within the state’s abortion industry.
The South Carolina House Legislative Oversight Committee commenced its investigation of the three free-standing abortion facilities in the state in September of 2015. The objective of the investigation is to ascertain whether any abortion facility engages in the trafficking of fetal remains, as has been alleged in other states.
In an attempt to deflect attention from the numerous other illegal practices that have been uncovered, Planned Parenthood officials and supporters have attempted to portray the investigation as having failed to produce any evidence that local abortion businesses were involved in the trafficking of aborted fetal tissue. However, the investigation has revealed a number of disturbing practices that have been occurring within the state’s abortion businesses.
Consequently, the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is proposing to tighten regulations pertaining to abortion clinics. This would include the mandatory use of ultrasounds to determine gestational age prior to an abortion. The current regulations require the use of an ultrasound if the estimated age of the fetus is 12 weeks or older.
Another beneficial outcome of the investigation is the recommendation by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) that hospital emergency rooms be required to report post-abortion complications. This represents a positive step forward, as it acknowledges the existence of significant complications that are not currently documented and that abortion facilities are not held responsible for.
Planned Parenthood and two other abortion businesses face fines of up to $51,000. Only Planned Parenthood is contesting the fines.
In September, when Melissa Reed, the Vice President of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, informed reporters that the South Carolina investigation of abortion facilities was a politically motivated “witch hunt,” the story of Hansel and Gretel came to my mind. In the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, the witch kills and cooks children. I believe that Ms. Reed’s statements are excessive.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
