In a series of surprise inspections of abortion clinics, the Florida state Agency for Health Care Administration found that Planned Parenthood had repeatedly violated its license to perform abortions only during the first trimester, defined as the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Now the abortion giant is suing the state of Florida, claiming that the AHCA changed its definition of the first trimester.
The AHCA investigation found 32 such violations, with Planned Parenthood performing illegal abortions at three of its 16 abortion clinics in Florida, in St. Petersburg, Fort Myers, and Naples. The agency also found that a fourth facility in Pembroke Pines did not maintain proper logs for the disposal of fetal remains.
Gov. Rick Scott ordered the inspections after the Center for Medical Progress launched an ongoing series of video exposés that show the nation’s largest abortion provider harvesting and selling aborted fetal body parts, becoming the 11th state to launch an investigation into the multimillion dollar abortion company.
“The videos coming out about Planned Parenthood are deeply troubling to say the least. It is against the law for any organization to sell body parts,” Scott said in a statement.
The agency said it was taking “immediate actions” against the first three facilities, ordering them to cease providing second trimester abortions, and saying it was considering “administrative sanctions.”
“We will take immediate actions against these three facilities for performing second trimester abortions without a proper license,” said AHCA spokesperson Shelisha Coleman. “These facilities have been notified to immediately cease performing second trimester abortions.”
Planned Parenthood countered by filing a lawsuit Monday in Leon County Circuit Court to stop the state from pursuing any action against the three clinics it found to be performing abortions illegally.
Follow Thomas D. Williams on Twitter @tdwilliamsrome
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