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Komen Official Quits After Planned Parenthood Controversy
A top executive at Susan G. Komen for the Cure resigned Tuesday over the breast cancer charity’s decision to back down from severing ties with Planned Parenthood.
Karen Handel, senior vice president of public policy for Komen, in recent days emerged as the figure behind the charity’s decision to prevent its local affiliates from making grants to Planned Parenthood clinics for breast-screening programs.
The charity said Friday that it wouldn’t go ahead with the move, following several days of harsh criticism that spread quickly through social media. In recent days, petitions have circulated online calling for Ms. Handel’s resignation.
Ms. Handel said in her resignation letter, which was earlier reported by the Associated Press, that she “openly acknowledge[d]” her involvement in the policy change “and continue[d] to believe our decision was the best one for Komen’s future and the women we serve.”
“What was a thoughtful and thoroughly reviewed decision—one that would have indeed enabled Komen to deliver even greater community impact—has unfortunately been turned into something about politics…. This development should sadden us all greatly,” she wrote.
She also said that Komen had been trying to find a way to end its relationship with Planned Parenthood before she became the charity’s top lobbyist in the spring of 2011. More
What are the Planned Parenthood contributions from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation used for?
This has been an ongoing controversy and now that LiveAction has come out with another sting on Planned Parenthood, this is significant. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation states in its March 2011 Statement on Planned Parenthood:
Early screening through mammograms and education is critical to end the suffering from this disease: 98 percent of women treated for early stage breast cancer, before it spreads, are alive five years later. The widespread use of mammography and heightened public awareness of breast cancer both contribute to these favorable statistics.
And while Komen Affiliates provide funds to pay for screening, education and treatment programs in dozens of communities, in some areas, the only place that poor, uninsured or under-insured women can receive these services are through programs run by Planned Parenthood. emphasis mine
More information provided on the PP homepage shows they clearly refer out for these mammography services:
Where Can I Get a Mammogram?
Ask your health care provider, health department, or staff at your local Planned Parenthood health center about where you can get a mammogram in your area.
Additionally, it appears that PP does provide breast exams only. However, the Komen memo links mammography, screenings, education, and treatment of breast cancer as their list of reasons it contributes to PP.
Now that Live Action has proved that PP does NOT provide mammography services to its clients, what is the money being used for, because clearly is not for mammography screenings? Education, treatment?
The Komen Foundation needs to come clean on specifically what those PP contributions are designated and why they really continue to support PP.
Crossposted at HotAir’s Green Room
