Planned Parenthood Is Told to Show Children's Files
Judge Kenneth Johnson ruled yesterday that Planned Parenthood of Indiana must comply with the state's request for the medical records of 84 patients under the age of 14. "Under Indiana law, anyone under 14 who is sexually active is considered a victim of sexual abuse, and health providers are required to report such cases to the state authorities," according to The New York Times.

"The great public interest in the reporting, investigation, and prosecution of child abuse trumps even the patient's interest in privileged communication with her physician, because in the end, both the patient and the state are benefited by the disclosure," Judge Johnson, of Marion Superior Court, wrote.

Planned Parenthood vowed to fight the decision and said it would not turn over the medical records. But state officials argued that they need to determine if Planned Parenthood, which is a Medicaid provider, failed to report child abuse.

Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, who is fighting a similar battle with Planned Parenthood, is watching the court fight in Indiana, writes the Associated Press. He "has been accused of conducting a fishing expedition in seeking access to the records of 90 patients from Dr. George Tiller's clinic in Wichita and the Overland Park clinic operated by Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri."

Judge Johnson ruled that turning over medical records to state prosecutors does not violate the constitutional protection against invasion of privacy and unreasonable searches. Kline spokesman Jan Lunsford said the attorney general is "encouraged by the Superior Court judge in Indiana's ruling, given that our case is very similar."

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