State Rep. Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs, announced Monday that he will introduce a bill to ban the purchase or sale of tissues from an aborted fetus in Georgia. Willard's bill is a response to five sting videos shot inside Planned Parenthood.
Wendell WillardThe videos, released in July, show the center's executives and other employees talking about providing fetal organs and tissues to researchers. They think they are discussing the sales with representatives for a company who will give the organs and tissues to scientists. Instead, they are talking to actors.
Selling fetal tissue for a profit is illegal, but Planned Parenthood executives say the money they get from the fetal tissues and organs merely covers the cost of performing the abortions. The videos also sparked a debate about whether researchers should use fetal tissues at all.
In the videos, Planned Parenthood employees discuss which organs are in demand, and how doctors can alter abortion procedures to get those organs to researchers.
In Georgia, Willard's bill would make selling or buying tissues from a fetal abortion punishable by five years in prison. There would be an exception, however, for transferring fetal tissues to hospitals, colleges and other labs for research purposes - so long as money does not change hands.
"Women facing this crisis must be confident that they are able to receive counseling, as the law requires, from someone who is not selfishly motivated by profit," Willard said in a release. "I take seriously our charge to protect the dignity of human life, and we will see to it that those who would engage in such a barbaric trade will face the full force of justice in our state."
Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at tjett@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.