A federal watchdog will conduct a full audit of all fetal tissue research supported by the federal government in the wake of Planned Parenthood’s video scandal.
The watchdog will look into grants awarded for human fetal tissue research projects primarily doled out by the National Institutes of Health. It will primarily center on whether the grants violate any federal requirements.
The probe, announced Tuesday by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is in response to a letter sent by Paul and 34 other senators in October. The investigation will be conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General.
The senators wanted the audit after a series of undercover videos showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing the harvesting and donating of aborted fetal body parts.
The undercover videos, produced by the anti-abortion activist group Center for Medical Progress, sparked questions from lawmakers over whether Planned Parenthood profits from aborted fetal body parts, which is illegal under federal law.
The women’s health and abortion provider has repeatedly denied that it profits, saying that it only gets compensated for costs such as transportation. The organization has since ceased such donations after the scandal erupted with the videos.
Paul said he was happy that the watchdog would investigate Planned Parenthood.
“Planned Parenthood selling body parts of the unborn demonstrates that the organization deserves not one penny more of our taxpayer dollars, and I am confident this investigation will give further proof of that,” the presidential candidate said. Paul currently ranks sixth in the Washington Examiner’s presidential power rankings.
While the senators’ letter had spurred the investigation, Planned Parenthood had previously suggested such an inquiry. President Cecile Richards had said in July that such a review could help ensure the medical community was held to the highest standard possible.
The organization said Tuesday that it applauded the announcement of an investigation into fetal tissue research. It also reiterated that Planned Parenthood has never sold fetal tissue for profit.
