Group claims abortions performed illegally

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Indiana Attorney General may determine if Lafayette's Planned Parenthood clinic is operating within the law. An anti-abortion group said it's running without a needed license. Planned Parenthood said that's a lie and the center is following all state guidelines.

"These 114 forms represent 36 babies that were terminated in 2010 and 78 babies that died in 2011 right here at the Lafayette Planned Parenthood Clinic," said Right to Life Legislative Director Sue Swayze.

114 abortions Swayze claims were performed illegally without a license.

Swayze said the Indiana State Department of Health compiles annual abortion statistics for the state.

She said statistics for both 2010 and 2011 were released in April, and for the first time, Tippecanoe County was listed as an abortion site.

"We referenced that with the State Department of Health's list of licensed and regulated abortion centers," said Swayze. "There was nothing licensed or listed for Tippecanoe County or Lafayette."

The Indiana Department of Health website lists five counties with licensed abortion clinics. Tippecanoe County is not one of them.

Yet, Planned Parenthood officials told NewsChannel 18 the Lafayette center doesn't need a license.

Indiana law describes an abortion clinic that requires a license as a freestanding entity that performs surgical abortions.

Planned Parenthood states the Lafayette clinic provides medical abortions, but not surgical ones.

They released this statement:

"The Lafayette health center meets all requirements of facilities that provide medication abortion. Indiana law addresses surgical abortion facilities only, so the Lafayette facility is not covered under that law."

Yet, Swayze is not convinced by the explanation. She believes the wording of the law is fuzzy and needs to be clarified.

"We filed a request with the Attorney General's Office to find out what's really happening here and what's lawful and what's not," said Swayze.

Swayze said if the Lafayette Planned Parenthood does not require a license to operate, that's something she and others want to work on getting changed.

"We're going to want to talk about that statewide," said Swayze. "This is a very lucrative business and that would be something that is probably duplicated at other places."

NewsChannel 18 reached out to the local Planned Parenthood in Lafayette, but they had no comment. Instead, we were redirected to the Planned Parenthood of Indiana in Indianapolis, and the president issued this statement.
    
"While we're not shocked that these extremists would stoop to these tactics, we are disappointed that they would flat-out lie. The fact is that our health center in Lafayette, like our other 27 health centers across the state, provides its services in accordance with Indiana law, without fail.

"Our highly trained health care professionals provide men and women in the Lafayette area with high-quality services every day. PPIN will continue to treat its patients compassionately and without judgment, and we encourage others to do the same."

The request was filed with the Attorney General's office Monday morning.

It's unknown when any answer will be given.