Planned Parenthood Applies to Sell Abortions on Claiborne Avenue

As reported by the Associated Press on Jan. 16, 2015, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals rejected Planned Parenthood's attempt to demonstrate that a need existed for a new abortion facility on Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans. In a letter dated Jan. 8, 2015, DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert wrote to Planned Parenthood: "Your application failed to establish the probability of serious, adverse consequences to recipients' ability to access outpatient abortion services if you are not allowed to apply for licensure."

Now, through a public records request, Louisiana Right to Life has obtained Planned Parenthood's "Facility Need Review" Brief submitted to DHH on Oct. 15, 2014. In this 74-page document, Planned Parenthood argues why New Orleans needs 2,844 more abortions on an annual basis, and why Planned Parenthood should be the business that provides those abortions.

Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life and leader of the Nola Needs Peace Coalition, said the following after reviewing Planned Parenthood's brief:

"Over the past few years Planned Parenthood has avoided almost all mention of abortion when discussing its new facility currently planned for Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans. They have focused instead on the need for women's healthcare. Now, in a shockingly blunt and business-like manner, Planned Parenthood is making a case to the state of Louisiana that the New Orleans area needs 2,844 new abortions every year, and that Planned Parenthood is the business to sell those abortions.

"As we have said from the outset, more Planned Parenthood in New Orleans will lead to more abortions in New Orleans. This document makes that abundantly clear. Our city needs more peace and more authentic healthcare, not a mega-facility to sell abortion to our citizens."

• Click to download the 74-page "Facility Need Review" Application submitted by "Planned Parenthood Center for Choice Inc." on Oct. 15, 2014.
• Click to download Secretary Kathy Kliebert's Jan. 8, 2015, Letter Responding to the "Facility Need Review" Application.
• Click to download a brief evaluation of Planned Parenthood's "Facility Need Review" Application.

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