Statement from Planned Parenthood on Charges from Former GA Secretary of State Karen Handel

WABE

September 25th, 2012

Former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel attracted national attention, and debate, when she left her job as an executive at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which works to fight breast cancer. Handel was involved in the decision to end grants from Komen to Planned Parenthood, for its breast cancer screening and awareness efforts. Some Komen supporters had opposed the grants, because Planned Parenthood also provides abortion services. But when word of the decision got out, Komen faced a firestorm of criticism, and Handel left the organization. She spoke with WABE’s Denis O’Hayer about her side of the controversy [link to Handel interview]. Planned Parenthood officials declined an interview, but sent a statement:

“It is incredible that there are people who still want to inject politics into breast cancer detection and treatment.

Each year, Planned Parenthood health centers perform nearly 750,000 breast exams. We’re proud of our work to help detect breast cancer, and our focus is always on the patients who rely on Planned Parenthood health centers for this lifesaving care.

Thanks to the outpouring of support we received during the Komen funding situation, we’ve been able to expand Planned Parenthood breast health work nationwide to reach even more women with more services.

Planned Parenthood is proud to continue partnering with Komen and with new partners like LiveStrong — all with the goal of helping women detect breast cancer when it is most treatable, regardless of their income.”