On April 6, I noted a report from Courthouse News that the Missouri Senate was considering charging the CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri with contempt for refusal to turn over subpoenaed medical records. At the time, I commented:
These Missouri legislators are demanding that Kogut breach patient confidentiality to serve their political agenda. Shame on them all, and they should all rot in jail for what they’re trying to do.
I am pleased to report that yesterday, the Senate announced they won’t be charging Ms. Kogut with contempt. FXTribune reports that the Senate has narrowed the scope of the subpoena:
Whereas the subpoena demanded all documents with any reference to two doctors who appeared in the undercover videos, the agreement limits disclosure to only those documents in which the doctors are mentioned alongside fetal tissue, staff recruitment or commercial transactions outside the group’s “customary fees.”
And while the subpoena encompassed all documents on emergency medical dispatches to Planned Parenthood clinics, the agreement only calls for dispatch records compiled by public entities.
But at the same time the Senate backed away somewhat from its overbroad fishing expedition, they also cut funding to Planned Parenthood.
One step forward, two steps back. They’re still assholes for depriving women of needed health care.
It is hard to be positive with Planned Parenthood President not being in held in contempt when Missouri still wants to deny access to women’s healthcare and try to control their body. My cynicism is channeling here.