More Trouble For Genocidal Feminists at Planned Parenthood

Iowa Judge Orders Planned Parenthood, Others to Hand Over Pregnancy Tests
By Cori Drost Associated Press Writer
Published: Jul 2, 2002




DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A judge has ordered Planned Parenthood and five hospitals to turn over hundreds of pregnancy tests to help police track down the mother of a newborn whose body was dumped, then shredded at a recycling center.
Buena Vista County Attorney Phil Havens has argued the tests are not medical records because they can be administered by lay people.

But the American Civil Liberties Union called last week's District Court ruling an "extreme invasion of privacy." Planned Parenthood officials appealed Monday to the Iowa Supreme Court, saying their files are protected by federal law.

"Basically what these guys are asking for is to walk into our clinic and have carte blanche access to our records. That's so appalling to me," said Sandra Suarez, an attorney for Planned Parenthood.

District Court Judge Frank Nelson subpoenaed pregnancy test records conducted by the hospitals and Planned Parenthood between August 2001 and May 2002.

The boy's body was found at the recycling center May 30. Investigators have interviewed new mothers, doctors, school officials and human service employees but say they have no suspects and few clues.

Sheriff Chuck Eddy declined to comment Tuesday, referring questions to Havens, who did not return a phone call to his office.

"It's not just about pregnancy services but also about the privacy rights that all of us have in our medical records," said Randall Wilson, legal director of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union. "If the people who are using those clinics believe they are getting medical care, then they have a reasonable expectation of privacy."

Planned Parenthood officials estimated they gave out nearly 1,000 pregnancy tests between August and May. But pregnancy tests are also widely available at drugstores and, so far, there is no indication the baby's mother visited either the clinic or any of the five hospitals.

"We are always concerned when the state goes in with a dragnet seeking people's private medical records," said Jennifer Dalven, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union's Reproductive Freedom Project in New York.

Sending police officers to question women about whether they had a miscarriage, an abortion or gave birth is "highly intrusive into people's private lives," she said.

Buena Vista County Hospital, one of the five hospitals whose records have been subpoenaed, said Tuesday that it has turned over only public birth information.

Havens has not identified the other four hospitals.