In an interview today with MSNBC, Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) falsely stated that the thinks Planned Parenthood performs mammograms, saying, “I think Planned Parenthood does mammograms, they do so much of the healthcare, the preventative healthcare, and if they’re doing that, then we need to provide those services, absolutely.”
Last year Planned Parenthood’s CEO Cecile Richards made a similar false claim on national television which was debunked by Live Action investigative reporters. You can see Richards’s comments and the subsequent fact-finding investigation below:
In response to the fact-check by Live Action, the Washington Post reported that “[a] spokesman for Planned Parenthood, however, immediately denied that the group claimed to provide mammograms.”
When challenged on the truth, Planned Parenthood came clean and admitted that providing mammograms was not one of their services. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison owes the truth to the public whom she misinformed today and should issue a statement of correction. Hutchison is not the first senator to spread this false assertion, as California Senator Barbra Boxer (D) did the same thing last year.
You can see a video of Senator Hutchison’s comments from today here.
UPDATE:
Senator Hutchison’s office has responded saying: “Senator Hutchison did indeed misspeak. PP does do breast exams and they refer patients to other providers for mammograms but they do not provide mammograms in house.”
