Ind. Antiabortion Group Claims Planned Parenthood Clinic Violates State Licensing Law

September 12, 2012 — Indiana Right to Life on Monday accused Planned Parenthood of Indiana's Lafayette clinic of violating a state licensing law by providing medication abortion drugs, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Indiana law requires clinics that offer surgical abortion care to obtain licenses. State Department of Health spokesperson Ken Severson would not comment on whether the law applies to clinics that offer only medication abortion, adding that the department would have to look into the allegations before determining if action is needed. A legal citation provided by the department defines abortion as "the termination of human pregnancy with an intention other than to produce a live birth or to remove a dead fetus" but does not mention medication abortion (Wilson, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 9/10).

PPIN President Betty Cockrum said the Lafayette facility does not have a license because it does not offer surgical abortion. "State law is very clear," she said (Vizza, Lafayette Journal and Courier, 9/10).

Cockrum called IRTL's allegations a "flat-out lie," adding that PPIN's "health center in Lafayette, like our other 27 health centers across the state, provides its services in accordance with Indiana law."

In a news release, IRTL Legislative Director Sue Swayze said her group sent a letter to the state attorney general's office requesting an investigation into whether the Lafayette clinic complies with state abortion clinic inspection and licensing regulations (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 9/10).