During her Wednesday report on CBS Evening News, correspondent Meg Oliver admitted a state investigation found that the Planned Parenthood facility in St. Louis, Missouri performed an abortion that violated state law. The clinic also vowed to break even more of the state’s laws. But she and the network still feared for the future of the facility, which could be shut down on Friday.
“Planned Parenthood of St. Louis, may no longer be able to perform abortions by the end of the week. The clinic says they will defy state law, which says they must perform two pelvic exams before an abortion procedure,” Oliver bemoaned. She essentially admitted that this clinic was intent on further breaking the law.
Oliver decried the State of Missouri for having “some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country” because, before allowing an unborn child to be killed, the state-required “a consent process, a 72-hour waiting period, and two pelvic exams before a woman undergoes an abortion procedure.”
It wasn’t until after speaking with one of the clinic’s doctors, who she allowed to spew Planned Parenthood’s propaganda, Oliver did admit to the clinic having performed an illegal abortion. “The state said Planned Parenthood has violated laws and regulations. A recent inspection found the clinic broke the law, performing an abortion at 21 weeks. Missouri law bans the procedure at 20 weeks,” she reported.
To her credit, this was the first time any broadcast network cared to mention why Missouri was looking to pull the clinic’s license to begin with.
The CBS correspondent also spoke with a woman who just so happened to be there that day to get an abortion:
OLIVER: We spoke with a woman, whose identity we are protecting at her request for security reasons, who came to Planned Parenthood this week for an abortion.
Do you feel that you were violated having to have another pelvic exam?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Yes. My thing is, if there's a medical reason that's putting me – that’s keeping me safe, then okay, I'm totally fine with it. I feel that the pelvic exam is just another way for them to deter you of a decision you already know you want to make.
But Oliver, what about the violation done to the unborn child via the abortion? And why are you so worried about a facility that intentionally violates the law?
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
June 19, 2019
6:39:55 p.m. EasternMAURICE DUBOIS: Now to some breaking news on an extremely divisive issue. In the wake of numerous protest, CBS News has learned Planned Parenthood is planning to defy state law in Missouri, a step that puts the state's only abortion clinic one step closer to shutting down by Friday. Meg Oliver reports tonight from St. Louis.
[Cuts to video]
MEG OLIVER: CBS News has learned Missouri's only clinic that provides abortions, Planned Parenthood of St. Louis, may no longer be able to perform abortions by the end of the week. The clinic says they will defy state law, which says they must perform two pelvic exams before an abortion procedure.
Missouri has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, requiring a consent process, a 72-hour waiting period, and two pelvic exams before a woman undergoes an abortion procedure. Dr. David Eisenberg is the medical director of the clinic.
You're the only abortion clinic available in the state of Missouri. By choosing to do this, are you choosing your ethics over women's healthcare?
DR. DAVID EISENBERG: We are choosing to provide the best quality patient-centered care that we've always provided at Planned Parenthood. And that includes doing things that are driven by science, by evidence, and by what's medically appropriate.
OLIVER: The clinic has been one of the focal points in the abortion debate with weeks of protests. The state said Planned Parenthood has violated laws and regulations. A recent inspection found the clinic broke the law, performing an abortion at 21 weeks. Missouri law bans the procedure at 20 weeks.
The latest chapter of the prolonged battle is a letter the clinic plans to file in district court Thursday. They cite a recent statement from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that says: “routine, multiple pelvic exams for women seeking abortion care are unwarranted, invasive, and not supported by evidence.”
We spoke with a woman, whose identity we are protecting at her request for security reasons, who came to Planned Parenthood this week for an abortion.
Do you feel that you were violated having to have another pelvic exam?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Yes. My thing is, if there's a medical reason that's putting me – that’s keeping me safe, then okay, I'm totally fine with it. I feel that the pelvic exam is just another way for them to deter you of a decision you already know you want to make.
[Cuts back to live]
OLIVER: The state health department has until Friday morning to determine whether to renew Planned Parenthood's license. Maurice?
DUBOIS: Meg Oliver in St. Louis tonight. Thank you.
