Planned Parenthood Cuts Ties With Five Florida Clinics

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 03 Jul 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Planned Parenthood Federation of America on Monday officially ended its relationship with an affiliate once known as Planned Parenthood of South Palm Beach and Broward Counties after a March review found many problems, including harassment complaints, plagiarism and possible mismanagement of nearly $450,000, the Miami Herald reports (Samuels, Miami Herald, 7/2).

During the March review, PPFA officials found deficiencies in the conditions, medical operations, policies and procedures at its affiliated clinics in Boca Raton, Oakland Park, Tamarac, Pembroke Pines and Deerfield Beach, Fla. At the time of the review, then-CEO Mary Capobianco resigned and was replaced by former board member Ruth Lynch (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/25).

According to Karen Ruffato, vice president of operations for PPFA, the organization immediately began work to disaffiliate from the Florida chapter. PPFA temporarily closed the clinics in March. In April, it began the process to permanently strip the clinics of the national name. Ruffato said PPFA has called on the "more reputable" Planned Parenthood of Greater Miami, Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast to open one clinic in Broward and one in Boca Raton. Planned Parenthood of Greater Miami spokesperson Judith Selzer said it will add clinics "as quickly and swiftly as the community needs."

Reaction

Lynch said that PPFA moved to disaffiliate from the chapter before it could resolve its problems. "We take responsibility that there was horrible management," Lynch said, adding, "But that was then. This is now. We have a new board." Lynch said the clinics' board of trustees plans eventually to open and continue medical services at the five facilities without the Planned Parenthood name. According to the Herald, the clinics provided 16,000 people with services such as breast exams, HIV testing and abortion services, and it received $500,000 in taxpayer funding in 2005.

Ruffato said, "This is a very rare situation and a very unfortunate situation," adding, "And as sad and as hard as moving through a disaffiliation is, I believe our ultimate responsibility is to the mission. And ultimately we need to make sure that your community clinic has the best health care and meets our high standards" (Miami Herald, 7/1).

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