Video Alleges Planned Parenthood Sells Fetus Parts, Agency Denies It

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Texas leaders, including former Governor and Presidential candidate Rick Perry and US Senator Ted Cruz have weighed in on a video that began circulating online Tuesday.

The undercover video, produced by The Center for Medical Progress, claims to show Planned Parenthood executives discussing the sale of organs of aborted fetuses.  According to the Center for Medical Progress, Planned Parenthood's Senior Director of Medical Services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, describes to actors posing as buyers how the fetus organs are preserved during the abortion process.

"We've been very good at getting heart, lung, liver, because we know that, so I'm not gonna crush that part, I'm gonna basically crush below, I'm gonna crush above, and I'm gonna see if I can get it all intact," she says.

Planned Parenthood has responded to the video and is denying any involvement in the sale of fetus body parts.  Instead, the organization claims that it often donates tissue for scientific research with the full consent of its patients.  The agency also notes that the costs to transport the tissue is often reimbursed, which is not uncommon in the medical field.

"A well funded group established for the purpose of damaging Planned Parenthood's mission and services has promoted a heavily edited, secretly recorded videotape that falsely portrays Planned Parenthood's participation in tissue donation programs that support lifesaving scientific research.  Similar false accusations have been put forth by opponents of abortion services for decades. These groups have been widely discredited and their claims fall apart on closer examination, just as they do in this case," said Eric Ferrero, Planned Parenthood's Vice President of Communications in a written statement.

Still, many people are reacting to the video, including former Texas Governor Rick Perry, who posted the following message on his Facebook page:

"The video showing a Planned Parenthood employee selling the body parts of aborted children is a disturbing reminder of the organization's penchant for profiting off the tragedy of a destroyed human life. It is because of stories like this that I signed legislation defunding Planned Parenthood in the state of Texas – to protect human life and the health and safety of Texans."

US Senator Ted Cruz posted this response to the video:

"Today's news regarding allegations that Planned Parenthood is possibly selling the body parts of the babies it has aborted is sickening.

There is no place for taxpayer funding of organizations that profit from taking away innocent life, much less profiting off the bodies of the lives they have stolen. Congress should immediately begin an investigation of Planned Parenthood's activities regarding the sale and transfer of aborted body parts, including who is obtaining them and what they are being used for. And it should renew efforts to fully defund Planned Parenthood to ensure that its morally bankrupt business receives not one penny of taxpayer money.

I proudly stand on the side of life and remain committed to fighting for all innocent life to be valued and protected under the laws of this nation."

CBS 11 has posted the YouTube link to the 8-minute video above, so you can judge for yourself.