Two Planned Parenthood clinics in Pennsylvania are being cited for violations that included biohazard containers found in a janitor’s closet and baby body parts discovered decomposing in bags.
The charges come only two years after the murder conviction of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell.
Grand Jury testimony revealed in 2013 that Gosnell – who was convicted of murdering babies born alive during abortion procedures by cutting their spinal cords with scissors – was never uncovered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Instead, the unearthing of his “House of Horrors” was done by accident when police raided the clinic in order to seize evidence of illegal prescription drug sales.
As Live Action News reports, while Pennsylvania has increased its inspections of abortion facilities since the revelations in the Gosnell case, state health inspection reports from both the Locust Street Planned Parenthood and the Far Northeast Planned Parenthood suggest such inspections may not be sufficient to keep women safe.
The Locust Street Planned Parenthood facility has been out of compliance with state laws at various times over at least the past three years. Violations have been in the areas of life safety, fire safety minimum standards, anesthesia recovery guidelines, drug storage, and operating room construction.
In November of 2011, the state found this Planned Parenthood clinic to be strangely “in compliance,” though it observed the following:
Biohazard Room – Several cardboard biohazard boxes were stored directly on the floor. There were containers of used needles on the floor with the needles spilled and scattered on the floor.
Recovery Room – A container of used needles was stored directly on the floor.
In June of 2012, the state’s inspection found violations with Child Protective Services in which the clinic “failed to ensure processes were in place to meet the requirements for background checks…”
“An interview conducted on June 4 at 1:30 PM with EMP1 confirmed that the facility performs surgery on pediatric patients and that there was no documentation that all three background checks were conducted on any of the employees,” the state inspection report said.
Though the Locust Street Planned Parenthood clinic demonstrated continued violations, it remained open. Even just three months ago, the latest inspection revealed, once again, multiple violations.
“Based on observation and interview with staff (EMP), it was determined that the facility failed to provide a safe and sanitary environment,” the report said.
Findings in August included a bench cushion that had “multiple darkened stains,” improper sterilization of instruments, unclean carpeted areas with “multiple darkened stains,” and the following:
Based on observations, review of facility documents and interviews with employees (EMP), it was determined that the facility failed to properly store human pathological waste…
Interview on August 13, 2015, at 11:15 AM, with EMP1 revealed that biohazards, including human pathological waste (such as products of conception- POCs) are picked up weekly, either on Monday or Tuesday, by a contracted waste management company.
Observation on August 13, 2015, at 11:30AM, with EMP1, revealed an environmental services closet containing used biohazard containers. The environmental services closet was not locked and appeared that the locking mechanism was not working properly in order to prevent unauthorized access to biohazardous materials.
Observation on August 13, 2015, at 11:40 AM, with EMP1, revealed an unlocked, biohazard storage freezer located on a countertop. Observation of the freezer revealed a heavy accumulation of ice and frost build up and several freezer bags containing red biohazard bags. The red biohazard bags contained POCs.
Two of the red biohazard bags were undated. EMP1 revealed that they were from the last two weeks. However, this could not be confirmed. EMP1 also indicated that the red biohazard bags, containing POCS, are not usually labeled with a date.
The facility failed to properly store human pathological waste.
The Far Northeast Planned Parenthood facility was also found to have health and safety violations over at least a four-year period, including the state’s determination that the clinic “cared for unmarried pregnant children under the age of 16 and the facility failed to ascertain if the child had sexual intercourse with an individual who was four or more years older than the child…”
In August, this Planned Parenthood clinic was observed to have unsterilized equipment – including needles and syringes – as well as used medication that was stored in a patient area. It was noted in the state’s inspection report that the facility’s “Infection Control Plan,” dated August 1, 2015, revealed “that the facility sterilizes brushes used for cleaning instruments, once weekly; which deviated from the acceptable standards of practices as indicated by the CDC…” [emphasis added]
Perhaps even more evocative of Gosnell’s “House of Horrors” is the following finding in August in the Far Northeast Planned Parenthood facility of the storage of aborted babies in biohazard bags without preservative or refrigeration – which is against state law:
Observation on August 13, 2015, at 1:20 PM, with EMP1, revealed an environmental services closet containing one biohazard container (box), dated August 12, 2015.
Interview on August 13, 2015, at 1:20 PM, with EMP1, revealed that the facility did not have a freezer or a refrigerator to store human pathological waste.
Interview on August 13, 2015, at 1:25 PM, with EMP2, revealed that anything over 12 weeks is placed in Formalin and sent out, via FedEx, to the contracted laboratory site. Anything under 12 weeks is rinsed, verified and then placed in a red biohazard bag, without preservative, and placed in the red biohazard container (box) to await pick-up from the contracted waste management company.
The facility failed to properly store human pathological waste.
The state notes this clinic’s “Plan of Correction” is as follows:
No later than 9/10/2015, all abortion tissue that is not being sent out for laboratory testing will be stored in the freezer prior to weekly biohazard pickup by our contracted biohazard waste management vendor. The abortion tissue specimens (human pathological waste) will be double-bagged in red biohazardous bags, labeled with the date of procedure, and placed in the freezer at the end of each procedure day. PPSP [Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania] will continue to store specimens over 12 week gestation in formalin prior to being sent to off-site laboratory for testing (as required by PA regulations) and disposal.
“Despite Planned Parenthood’s millions of dollars in advertising each year to tout itself as a women’s health care provider, these severe health and safety violations demonstrate the callous disregard that Planned Parenthood has not only for life, but for the safety of its own clients,” Lila Rose, president of Live Action tells Breitbart News. “From storing aborted babies body parts in bags in a janitor’s closet, to leaving used needles scattered on the floor, to failing to conduct background checks on employees who worked with children, Planned Parenthood continues to show that it cares little for anything but its own bottom line.”
“That’s why Live Action continues its undercover investigations to expose the lies, corruption, and scandals of America’s abortion giant,” Rose added.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.