Missouri House considers fetal tissue donation ban

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The two Republicans who led last year's House investigation into Planned Parenthood defended legislation Tuesday they said would close gaps in how Missouri tracks fetal remains after an abortion and would prevent donations of fetal tissue for research.

Reps. Diane Franklin and Andrew Koenig said the state's current requirement abortion providers send a small tissue sample to a pathologist does not preclude the remainder of the fetus from being sold illegally. Franklin, who sponsored four of the five bills heard in committee Tuesday, also said she wants to ensure there's no possibility women are encouraged to get pregnant solely to provide fetal tissue.

"It's a bit of a stretch, but it's a slippery slope. And I already feel like we're a little bit behind now with having so many loopholes" in how the state tracks fetal remains, she told The Associated Press.

Abortion rights supporters said the proposals -- which also would require more inspections of abortion facilities and a new system for tracking each aborted fetus -- are redundant regulations whose true purpose is to make it more difficult to provide abortions.

Both the House and Senate began investigations last year after undercover videos emerged last summer alleging Planned Parenthood officials were selling fetal tissue for profit, which the group denied. A grand jury recently cleared the Planned Parenthood officials and instead indicted two pro-life advocates involved in making the videos. Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster has said his office found no evidence of wrongdoing in Missouri.

Federal law bans the sale of fetal tissue, but allows payment for costs such as transportation, processing and storing the tissue. Researchers are using fetal tissue to develop vaccines and treatments for HIV, dengue fever and hepatitis B and C, according to the American Society of Cell Biology.

Missouri law already bans research on fetal tissue, so Planned Parenthood does not have any tissue donation program in the state, said M'Evie Mead, director of statewide organizing for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Missouri.

Dr. Jaclyn Grentzer, who says she is one of five doctors in the state who perform abortions, told lawmakers all the tissue from an abortion is sealed in a container and sent to pathology services along with a report.

"I see it with my own eyes on every procedure that I've preformed," she said.

Thirty-eight states explicitly allow research on fetal tissue obtained through abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that advocates for expanding abortion access, while at least five other states ban it.

Mead said Planned Parenthood has not had any discussions about sending fetal tissue to researchers in other states.

Supporters of the legislation also argued it was a step toward restoring respect toward human life.

"We can't stop abortion, but we can give dignity to these tiny babies who are losing their lives," said Susan Klein, Missouri Right to Life's legislative liaison.

Franklin, who is the committee's chairwoman, said she plans to hold a vote on the bills Tuesday.