Discussion about the past week regarding the battle between Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood.

Komen Explosion

Before I even say anything…

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4oOh6JhayA&feature=youtu.be

• Released Feb 3rd 2012

The Decision• Komen decided a phone call was more proper then to quietly letting

then go• The Associated Press notified the group several days before it broke

the story on January 31 [4]

A memo was sent out after the decision (workers) (December 2011)– The memo, written as a Q&A, reads in part:

Q(uestion) 7: Is Komen giving into pressure from the Catholic Church/anti-abortion groups/the political right in making this change?

• A(nswer) 7: Komen's decision to fund ANY grant is based on our mission priorities, a thorough community assessment, and strict eligibility and performance standards. Our granting criteria reflect our dedication to our mission and our consistent effort to invest our donors' dollars responsibly in support of our efforts to end breast cancer. [1]

The Decision Cont.Q8: Planned Parenthood provides health services in many of the

nation's poorest communities. How does your new policy align with your mission of serving women who lack resources to pay for important breast health services?

• A8: Susan G. Komen is deeply committed to providing breast health services to women throughout the U.S. It is our belief that where a woman lives should not determine whether she lives. Komen provided funds for 700,000 breast screenings last year alone, and provided financial and social support to another 100,000 women, as part of our $93 million investment in education, public health outreach and service to vulnerable women last year alone. That work will continue. We believe these new standards will further enhance the integrity of our granting process and strengthen our overall community health program. [1]

Mammograms and PP

• A Live Action actor called 30 different Planned Parenthood clinics in 27 different states asking if they offered mammograms

• Not one clinic was able to offer her that service.

• http://liveaction.org/blog/planned-parenthood-ceos-false-mammogram-claim/

Planned Parenthood Fact sheet, current as of Sept 2011

• Cancer Screening and Prevention — 16 percent of services in 2009– Pap Tests 904,820– HPV Vaccinations 44,924– Breast Exams/ Breast Care 830,312– Colposcopy Procedures*** 46,062– LOOP/LEEP Procedures*** 2,692– Cryotherapy Procedures*** 2,001

• Total Services- 11,383,900 • So ~ 7.3% of Planned Parenthood’s ‘services’ relate

to breast health.

And guess what?

• From PP’s site– Komen funded 170,000 clinical breast exams out of the more

than four million clinical breast exams performed by PP (in the past 5 years)

– 170,000/4,000,000 = 4.25%– Komen funded less than 5% of these breast exams and

Planned Parenthood throws a temper tantrum!

– http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/alarmed-saddened-komen-foundation-succumbing-political-pressure-planned-parenthood-launches-fun-38629.htm

In the meantime…

• Planned Parenthood sends out a ‘pity us e-mail’ and asks for gifts.

• They received $3 MILLION from Tuesday evening to Friday afternoon.

• http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/02/04/1829041/komen-group-reinstates-funding.html#storylink=misearch

Letter to a person complaining about link to PP

• http://www.lifenews.com/2011/04/18/komen-admits-planned-parenthood-grants-dont-get-women-mammograms/

• Komen still does not acknowledge the abortion-breast cancer link.

Karen Handel

• Named Senior VP of Public Policy for Komen in April 2011

• Considers herself pro-life• She’s receiving credit for prompting the decision

by Komen to de-fund Planned Parenthood. – But Nancy Brinker (founder), said the Handel is not

responsible for the decision (http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/02/komen-affiliate-leaders-quit-complain-about-funding-decision/)

Komen Officials Resign in Protest

• Mollie Williams– managing director of community health programs

and was responsible for directing $93 million in annual grants. [1]

• Dr. Kathy Plesser– a Manhattan radiologist on the advisory board of

Komen’s New York chapter [3]• Deb Anthony– the executive director of Komen’s Los Angeles County

chapter [3]

Latest Statement made on 2/3/12

• http://ww5.komen.org/KomenNewsArticle.aspx?id=19327354148

• “We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair”- Komen [2]

• Response from Cecile Richards “This was a simple story, when it broke, it just caught fire. This kind of political bullying- folks are just saying, ‘Enough’. “ [2]

SFLA Executive Director Kristen Hawkins Summary

• NCSU e-mail account.

MSNBC Interview with Komen Founder Brinker

• http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/02/komen-affiliate-leaders-quit-complain-about-funding-decision/

Resources that could not fit on page

• [1] http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/02/top-susan-g-komen-official-resigned-over-planned-parenthood-cave-in/252405/#.Tyqr5dUxGQQ.twitter

• [2]http://

www.newsobserver.com/2012/02/04/1829041/komen-group-reinstates-funding.html#storylink=misearch

[3] http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/02/komen-affiliate-leaders-quit-complain-about-funding-decision/

[4] http://www.lifesitenews.com/blog/komen-and-planned-parenthood-what-next

Discussion Questions• Do you think Komen has caved?• Why do you think Planned Parenthood went as

crazy as they did?– How was PP’s temper tantrum effective?

• What could Komen have done differently in handling this situation?

• Any other questions that we can talk about?– Is anyone interested in sending Komen an e-mail

containing our opinion of the issue?