Planned Parenthood Steps Up Training of Workers

After Planned Parenthood offices were videotaped by an antiabortion group that pretended to represent teenage sex traffickers, the organization announced on Monday that it would give additional training to staff members nationwide on how to handle concerns about possible dangers to minors, according to The New York Times.

The organization also announced that after the extra training had been completed, it would automatically fire anyone who violated federal reporting rules for aiding young people who might be in trouble.

“We’re doing this to reassure the public that we take these reporting requirements seriously,” Stuart Schear, vice president for communications at the organization, said.

The move comes as anti-abortion activists seek to persuade lawmakers to deny federal money to Planned Parenthood. A bill to cut off aid is attracting support among numerous members of the House, the newspaper said.

Planned Parenthood’s action on Monday did not do much to change the view of the organization that created the videotape.

Lila Rose, president of Live Action, called the new measures “window dressing” and said, “Live Action’s investigation has uncovered a serious, institutional crisis in which Planned Parenthood is willing to aid and abet sex trafficking and exploitation of minors and young women.”