Activists voice opposition to Planned Parenthood’s move

By Tanya Connor

WORCESTER – Citing reports of women’s deaths, “genocide” of black babies, unreported rape of minors and fraudulent business conduct connected with Planned Parenthood abortion providers around the nation, pro-life advocates asked that the local Planned Parenthood center be denied permission to move from 631 Lincoln St. to 470 Pleasant St.

Employees and supporters of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts advocated for the move, saying the Lincoln Street center is overcrowded, outdated and inefficient, with too little parking, and that the planned Pleasant Street facility would offer better security, ample parking and patient access to needed services.

More than 25 people testified for one side or the other Tuesday at a Massachusetts Department of Public Health Determination of Need hearing held at Clark University.

The hearing was held at the request of a Ten Taxpayer Group organized by Roderick P. Murphy, director of Problem Pregnancy of Worcester Inc., which offers women alternatives to abortion and works against Planned Parenthood.

More opportunities for residents to voice their opinions are coming up.

Joan Gorga, Determination of Need program director, said comments can be sent to her by May 23 at the Department of Public Health, 2 Boylston St., Third Floor, Boston, MA 02116.

On June 18 the program staff will submit its recommendation to the Public Health Council, and send copies to the taxpayer group and Planned Parenthood. They can make further comments by June 27, she said.

The program staff will then discuss whether to change their recommendation, and, on July 2, report to the council, she said.

The council is expected to discuss the issue and make its decision at its monthly meeting to be held at 9 a.m., July 9 at the Department of Public Health Council Room, 250 Washington St., Boston, Ms. Gorga said. Those who testified Tuesday can each make a presentation then.

At Tuesday’s hearing Rachel McCook said that when she was a Clark University student she got the otherwise-unaffordable nuvaRing birth control from Planned Parenthood. She said the agency is needed on Pleasant Street, closer to college students.

Jason Zelesky, Clark’s wellness coordinator, said he has referred hundreds of students to Planned Parenthood, which he called a safe, private, responsible place to go for compassionate, affordable care.

Dr. Diane Blake, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent heath, said she encourages youth to abstain from sexual activity as long as possible, but that they need a place like Planned Parenthood.

Dianne Luby, PPLM president and CEO, said Planned Parenthood provides family planning, testing for sexually transmitted infection, abortions, and sex education for students and parents. Last year they had more than 10,000 patients, she said, and need better parking, security and patient access.

Jackie Mansfield-Marcoux, center director for the Central Massachusetts Health Center of PPLM on Lincoln Street said the place is overcrowded, outdated and inefficient, with too little parking and security, and the new location is centrally located and accessible by bus.

Karen Caponi, health services director at the Lincoln Street center, said she is proud of working for Planned Parenthood for 22 years. She read patients’ notes about getting help with a breast lump and an abortion. She said that Planned Parenthood provides non-judgmental care and often can schedule patients within a week, when doctors would not do so.

Mr. Murphy said Massachusetts regulations say the determination of need process is to see that adequate health care services are available to everyone.

He said the Ten Taxpayer Group believes Planned Parenthood does not provide adequate health care, and its practices elsewhere provide reasonable grounds for concern about what will be done at the Pleasant Street facility. Other group members, all Catholics, gave information to support this.

“According to Ken Stroebel in the March 9, 2001 Norwich (Conn.) Bulletin, 365 women that have been killed in so called ‘safe abortions’ in the USA since Roe v. Wade,” Linda Adams said.

In Worcester in 1987, 22-year-old Elise Kalat had an abortion at Planned Parenthood, two days later her bronchial tubes went into spasms and caused her to go into respiratory arrest, and she died shortly thereafter, she said, citing Massachusetts Certificate of Death #22886. Mrs. Adams also mentioned recent reports of deaths following abortions elsewhere. When an audience member appeared to be laughing, she said, “This is not funny.”

Nina Tsantinis said from 1973 to 2004 almost 30 percent of the black population was erased through abortion. She said Planned Parenthood did not object when offered donations to reduce the black population. She referred listeners to the Web site blackgenocide.org.

Jay Guillette told of a story in the UCLA newspaper, The Advocate, about a student posing as a pregnant 15-year-old in 2007 and being told by the Santa Monica Planned Parenthood staff that if she said she was 16 or older, they would not have to report the rape. He mentioned two recent Connecticut cases, saying Planned Parenthood provided abortions to minors who were raped, but did not report the crimes.

Linda McManus cited a March 8, 2008 Los Angeles Times story about Victor Gonzales, vice president of finance for the L.A. Planned Parenthood, who submitted documents which suggest the agency “may have swindled upward of $180 million from California taxpayers.” Another case involving overbilling says ultrasound dates were changed so patients would have to pay more, she said.

“So,” Mr. Murphy concluded, “the legal objective underlying your entire determination of need process, namely the efficient, effective provision of ‘adequate health care services…’ far from being served by determining that there is a need for Planned Parenthood’s proposed facility, actually would be defeated by such action.” He asked that PPLM’s application be denied and its current permit canceled.